“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” (Pablo Picasso) If you own assets outside South Africa, you may have wondered: Is my local will enough? This is a question many South Africans are […]
See MoreEstate Planning: Why it Matters, and How To Get Started
“When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won.” (One of the witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth) Another year draws to a close! If you’re taking a break, now’s a great time to get started on an estate plan – […]
See MoreHow Can You Protect Your Heirs’ Inheritances from Their Creditors?
“The only person who sticks closer to you in adversity than a friend is a creditor.” (Unknown) You’ve done everything you can to leave your loved ones financially secure after you die. You’ve left enough assets to set them up […]
See MoreSibling Showdown: How One Missing Word in a Will Divided a Family
“From small mistakes come great catastrophes.” (Justin Cronin) We’ve all seen how even the smallest mistake can have huge consequences down the line. A recent High Court spat between siblings over a poorly-drafted will confirms once again that when it […]
See MoreIn the Land of the Will, Clarity is King
“The golden rule for the interpretation of testaments is to ascertain the wishes of the testator from the language used. And when these wishes are ascertained, the court is bound to give effect to them, unless we are prevented by […]
See MoreA Valentine’s Day Thought for Life Partners: What is a “Universal Partnership”?
“Marriage is the chief cause of divorce” (Groucho Marx) This Valentine’s Day, think about the legal aspects of your romantic relationship. They’re a lot less exciting than the traditional declarations of love backed up by chocolates and flowers, but they’re […]
See MoreEstate Planning: Remember your Pets!
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” (Mahatma Gandhi) For many of us our pets are a central part of our lives, our much loved “fur babies”, our […]
See MorePlan Your Estate to Protect Your Family – Two End-of-Year Questions to Ask Yourself
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” (Songwriters Pola & Wyle) As the end of another year approaches, with its family celebrations and holidays, take the time to check that your estate plan really does ensure that your loved […]
See MoreCan a Video Call be a Valid Will?
“Death is not the end. There remains the litigation over the estate.” (Ambrose Bierce) It may well be that in the future, we will be able to make a perfectly valid will (“Last Will and Testament”) by way of a […]
See MoreHow to Protect Your Children’s Inheritances from Ending Up in the Guardian’s Fund
“Live each day as if it were your last… because one day, you’ll be right.” (Benny Hill) It’s always tempting to procrastinate about decisions that force us to address the inevitability of our own mortality. But we have no choice […]
See More