Are Electronic Wills Valid?
We live in an age where agreements are concluded by email, documents are signed electronically, and important records are stored in the cloud. It is therefore not surprising that clients often ask: “Can I sign my will electronically?” or “Is the will saved on my laptop valid?” The short answer is that South African law […]
Trusts and Family Wealth
Passing wealth from one generation to the next is no longer a simple administrative exercise. Families today live longer, own more complex assets, and face evolving tax and legal environments. Against this backdrop, estate planning has shifted from short-term succession planning to long-term stewardship. One structure continues to feature prominently in this conversation: the living […]
Your Will is Set, But Who is in Charge? A Guide to the Executor of Your Estate
Completing your last will and testament is one of the most responsible steps you can take to protect your loved ones. It provides clarity, minimises conflict, and ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes. However, a will is only as effective as the person tasked with carrying it out. This crucial role is […]
When Is a Trust Not a Trust?
When can the provisions of a trust deed be set aside? When you don’t stick to the rules. Far too many people pay their accountant or attorney a visit, draw up a boilerplate trust deed, sign on the dotted line, and think that this piece of paper will take away all their tax and estate […]
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 […]
Can You Inherit from Someone You Have Merely Been Living With?
In South Africa, the number of couples who are permanently living together in life partnerships is increasing every year. What are the consequences that would ensue if either of the partners in the relationship dies without a will? Should a surviving partner in such a scenario have a claim for inheritance or maintenance from the […]