Will, or no Will?

Can someone please explain the risks of not having a will for a couple who is married in community of property, no kids? I don't think my husband is explaining it right.

They had a talk at his work and he said that having a will can save me thousands if he dies before me, but I don't understand how because the fees (such as to change the Deed to our house, attorneys fees, etc) don't fall away just because he has a will. He says it's because having a will let's me speak for him once he's dead, but as the surviving spouse, again no children, no one depending on us, I would do that anyway, surely?

I am the sole beneficiary on most of his policies, with the exception of his estranged mother being a 10% beneficiary on one of them.

I'm just not understanding the point of having a will if we don't have a complicated estate.