Tag: Wills Act

Losing a loved one is one of life’s most challenging experiences. On top of the emotional turmoil, discovering that the original will cannot be located can add stress and confusion. However, steps exist to ensure your loved one’s wishes are honoured, even with only a copy of the original will.

Divorce, while undoubtedly difficult, is a common experience that many of us go through. Amid the emotional turmoil and the seemingly endless checklist of tasks, there is one crucial undertaking that often gets overlooked: and that is updating your will. This oversight can lead to unexpected consequences, especially when it comes to inheritance rights.

The current chaos and squabble amongst the Zulu Royal family following the recent death of King Goodwill Zwelithini might have been avoided had his Will complied strictly with the requirements of the Wills Act. At this time, while the reporting coming out is not entirely clear, and it might well be that omissions and problems may have been overstated or miscommunicated, the truth will be clearer once the Will is made public.

Given the importance of a Will as a key component of any estate plan, it's worth the relatively minor investment of time and money to ensure that you get it 100% right. After all, your Will plays a fundamental role in ensuring that the solid estate plan you've spent so many hours developing is put into action on your death, without undue delays, unexpected costs or negative impacts on those you care about.

Having a valid will in place is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. A will can legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, as well as spell-out exactly how you would like things handled once you have passed on.

With four out of 10 marriages in South Africa ending in divorce before their tenth anniversary, it is crucial that spouses plan ahead to safeguard their assets.