ATTORNEYS TO DRAFT FREE WILLS
DURING NATIONAL WILLS WEEK: 11 to 15 SEPTEMBER 2017
Have you been recently divorced or widowed? Have you bought a new home? Have you been cohabitating with your partner for some time? Do you have a number of people that depend on you financially every month? If so, it is advisable to have a legally sound will to ensure that there are not competing claims on your estate when you pass away.
As has become tradition over the past few years, members of the public will be able to have a basic will drafted by an attorney free of charge during National Wills Week from 11 to 15 September 2017. Attorneys’ firms throughout the country are participating in the National Wills Week project.
The Rhodes University Law Clinic will also be participating in National Wills Week. During this time, the Clinic will draft free basic wills for any member of the public. Should you wish to have a will drafted, contact the Clinic before or during National Wills Week to make an appointment to consult, as capacity is limited and clients will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. The office number is 046 603 7644. In addition, the contact details and addresses of all participating attorneys can be accessed on the LSSA website at www.LSSA.org.za or by contacting the relevant provincial law society.
‘By ensuring that you have a valid will, you as the testator, can protect the interests of your loved ones and ensure that there is no delay in settling your estate after your death. It also ensures that your executor will act according to your wishes as set out in your will. A valid will allows you to state who should inherit your assets and property, to appoint an executor of your choice for your estate and also a guardian for your minor children,’ say Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) Co-Chairpersons, David Bekker and Walid Brown.
Why should an attorney draft your will?
A practising attorney has the necessary knowledge and expertise to ensure that your will is valid by complying with all the legal requirements in the Wills Act and also that it complies with your wishes. An attorney can also advise you on any problem which may arise with your will and assist your executor. Often a will is not valid because the person who drafts it does not have the necessary legal knowledge to ensure that all the legal requirements of the Wills Act are met.
What could happen to your estate if you die without a valid will?
If you die without leaving a valid will, your assets will be distributed according to the provisions of the Intestate Succession Act. These provisions are generally fair and ensure that your possessions are transferred to your spouse and children, and where applicable, to siblings, parents, and if required, then to the extended family in terms of degrees of relationships.
But, the following problems may arise if you die without leaving a will:
- Your assets may not be left to the person of your choice.
- It can take a longer time to have an executor appointed. The executor who is appointed may be somebody you may not have chosen yourself.
- There could be extra and unnecessary costs.
- There could be unhappiness and conflict among members of your family because there are no clear instructions on how to distribute your assets.
ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE CO-CHAIRPERSONS OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA, DAVID BEKKER AND WALID BROWN
