Understanding Living Wills

When one thinks of a will, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a last will and testament. This type of will expresses a person’s wishes after they have died. However, a living will, despite sharing some similarities with a last will and testament, is not the same thing. It can be described […]

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 […]

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DIE WITHOUT A WILL?

Attorneys often emphasise the fact that you should have a will drawn up and revise it regularly in order to facilitate the administration of your possessions after your death. Many people still neglect to do this. The problem is that, should a person die without leaving a valid will, in other words intestate, his/her estate […]