Local attorney firm can draft you a free will this month
National Wills Week affords all South Africans the opportunity to ensure their estate is administered in accordance with their wishes.
September 12 to 16 marks the 2022 National Wills Week, and citizens are encouraged to grab the opportunity to have their wills drafted by qualified lawyers free of charge.
What is National Wills Week?
South Africans are encouraged to seek the assistance of attorneys as the foremost experts in all wills and estate services.
Wills Week aims to encourage the general public, who do not generally make use of legal services, to approach any law firm participating in the event, to assist them in drafting a basic will, free of charge.
Why should you approach an attorney to assist you with the drafting of your will?
Attorneys are qualified and knowledgeable to deal with any wills and estate enquiries. The role of the attorney is to ensure that the terms of the testator’s will comply with the validity requirements, as per the Wills Act, and further, that the wording of such will still comply with the testator’s wishes.
The importance of a will?
A will provides the testator with certainty, that once they pass away, the assets which form part of their estate, will be distributed following their wishes. The testator is also entitled to elect a designated person of their choice, who will act as an executor of the estate and who will attend to the administration of the estate once the testator passes away.
In drafting a will, the testator can make provision for any minor children who are dependent on the testator, if the testator passes away before such time that the minor children become majors and/or self-sufficient.
By drafting a will, the testator also controls who will have access to their digital assets.
What happens if you pass away without a valid will?
More than 70% of all South Africans pass away without a valid will and in terms of South African Law, if a person dies without a valid will, the Intestate Succession Act will apply to such person’s estate.
The Act regulates that all the assets, which form part of the deceased’s estate, be distributed to their spouse and children (should they have any), parents and siblings, and in exceptional cases, even extended family members.
Challenges that may occur about intestate succession
If the deceased dies without a valid will (intestate), their assets may not be apportioned to the person of their choice. The deceased will have no control over the person appointed as executor, who will attend to the administration of their estate.
Even though there could be additional and unnecessary costs involved during the administration of an intestate estate, preventable conflict could arise between the family members of the deceased, because his or her wishes were not stipulated in a proper document.
Boksburg’s Malherbe Rigg and Ranwell Attorneys have a field of experts who specialise in wills and estates, and who would gladly assist any client in the drafting of their will.
For more information on free Wills Week or regarding the subject at hand contact Malherbe Rigg and Ranwell Attorneys on 011 918 4116, Riana (ext 2025) or Mpho (ext 2005).
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