What will happen?
One day on your way home from work, you’re killed in a car accident. Because you have no will or trust, the laws of the state go into effect—a process called intestate succession. According to the state, your husband will own half the house, and your kids (who do not approve of him at all) will own the other half. If they wanted to, they could force him to sell his home. If nothing else, they could probably make him buy out their half, if they’re willing to give up their attachment to the house. In any event, they’ll all have to go through probate and come up with the money to pay the probate fees. Had the children been younger, the state would also have determined guardianship.
A trust specifying what you wanted would have been the best thing, a will second best, even with probate fees. Without either, your loved ones still have the probate fees and your wishes will have gone unheeded.