Who’s Watching the Watchmen?

Ensuring their children are cared for when they pass away is one of the primary reasons people draw up a will. But what happens when the best interests of the children that are left behind are not at the forefront when an estate is administered and maintenance needs to be paid? This is, unfortunately, a […]

Documents that Help Pave the Way

If you can believe it, we are already at the end of January. With all the beginning-of-year struggles and excitement, there is something to keep in mind – your New Year’s resolutions. It is never too late to become better organised. One of the best ways to become better organised is to put life’s most […]

The validity of an e-will

In terms of South African law, for a will to be accepted as valid by the Master of the High Court (a statutory body to which deceased estates are reported), it must comply with the legal formalities as set out in section 1(a) of the Wills Act, 7 of 1953 (hereinafter referred to as the […]

The difference between Living Will and Last Will

A Living Will is a document regarding healthcare at the end of your life. It states that any treatment that would otherwise lengthen your life should be withheld in specific circumstances, such as being in a permanent vegetative state, irreversibly unconscious or terminally ill. Through a Living Will, you express the desire to die a […]

How do our courts interpret Wills and Testaments?

This article will look at the two competing approaches taken by courts in the interpretation of wills and testaments – namely the golden rule and the use of armchair and extrinsic evidence – and attempt to identify the current approach taken by our courts. The Golden Rule The starting point for the interpretation of wills […]

SHOULD I PLAN MY ESTATE AS A YOUNG ADULT?

It is very important for you to plan your estate, which could include a living will, a last will and a living trust. This can help families prepare for difficult times when you are no longer around to assist or advise them. Our lives get busier and more complicated by the day, so estate planning […]

CAN I AMEND MY WILL?

Having a will is a final statement of how you want your assets to be managed after your death. However, sometimes you may want to change it. You may have had a child, for example, and what to add him/her into your will. You may have also acquired more assets and would like to reconsider […]

THE BASICS OF CREATING A LAST WILL & TESTAMENT

Who your property is passed on to depends on whether you have a valid will or not. If you do have a valid will, then your property will be divided according to your wishes stated therein. If you die without a will (called “intestate”), then your property will be divided amongst your immediate family according […]

SHOULD I PLAN MY ESTATE AS A YOUNG ADULT?

It is very important for you to plan your estate, which could include a living will, a last will and a living trust. This can help families prepare for difficult times when you are no longer around to assist or advise them. Our lives get busier and more complicated by the day, so estate planning […]

How does inheritance work?

When someone dies they normally have what is called a ‘will’. The people who benefit from this ‘will’ are known as the heirs. Upon someone death, the heirs receive an ‘inheritance’. The person who administers the will of the deceased is called an ‘executor’. What legislation affects inheritances? South Africa’s inheritance laws apply to every […]