A person who dies leaving a will is said to have died

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Having a will at death means the person died testate. The term testate describes someone whose last wishes are written in a will that directs how assets are distributed. This is different from dying intestate, where there is no will and state law determines who inherits. In a testate situation, those named in the will are beneficiaries, while heirs are typically the relatives who would inherit under intestacy if there were no will.