What is the primary purpose of a will?

The primary purpose of a will is to declare the testator's intentions regarding asset distribution after death. A will serves as a legal document through which an individual specifies how they wish their property, assets, and responsibilities to be managed after their passing. This includes naming beneficiaries who will receive specific items or amounts of money and appointing an executor to ensure that the will's instructions are followed. By clearly outlining these intentions, the testator can help minimize disputes among potential heirs and provide clarity on their wishes.

While minimizing tax liabilities for the estate can be an important consideration in estate planning, it is not the fundamental purpose of a will. Instead, a will primarily focuses on the distribution of the testator's assets. Similarly, although identification documentation can be relevant to various legal processes following death, a will does not serve as an official identification for the deceased. Lastly, documenting the history of asset acquisition is not the main intent of a will; rather, it is concerned with how assets are to be allocated upon the testator's death. Thus, the essence of a will lies in its role in asset distribution, making the first answer the correct choice.