Amid the grief of losing a loved one, families are dealt additional burdens when the person did not leave behind a will or estate plan. Without one, it can open the door to family disputes or significant court costs to settle an estate. But only a little more than half of Americans over 55 have a will, according to a 2019 survey by Merrill Lynch. Collette Davis, an estate planning and probate attorney in Charlotte, tells her clients it’s critical to put their wishes in writing so that health care and financial decisions are handled responsibly at the end of their life. “This is the best thing …