Do I need an estate plan if I'm single with no children?

Yes — arguably more than ever, because there's no automatic spouse or child to inherit or speak for you. Without a will, your state's intestacy rules send assets to parents, then siblings, then more distant relatives, possibly skipping a partner, close friend, or charity you'd have chosen. Just as important are the incapacity documents: a durable power of attorney and a healthcare proxy naming who handles your finances and medical decisions if you can't, since no spouse exists to step in by default. Update beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance so they don't default to an estranged relative. Decide who would manage your affairs and care for any pets. Single people without kids often assume estate planning isn't for them, when in fact the absence of obvious heirs makes naming your choices essential. A few core documents cover most of it.