If you die or are incapacitated without a formal appointment of a personal representative / alternate in place, it is likely that the VLSB+C will need to appoint an external intervener under the Uniform Law, to enable someone to have the necessary powers to manage your law practice.
External intervention is an invariably lengthy, disruptive and costly process (the average cost is $40,000). The VLSB+C appointee may not be known to you, and is unlikely to be familiar with your practice, clients or staff. Under the Uniform Law, s/he must conduct a full audit of the law practice before s/he can conduct its day-to-day affairs, attempt to sell it, or wind it up. The costs of the external intervention are borne by your law practice or estate.
Thus, external intervention is an added pressure on your clients, staff and family at a time when they are already dealing with the implications of your unexpected absence, and practitioners are advised to take steps to avoid it by ensuring a formal personal representative / alternate appointment is in place.