When There’s a ‘WILL’, There’s a Way

So, you’re on lockdown, you’ve cleaned the house, re-packed all your cupboards, and have watched all of the seasons of your favorite series. Now what?

Now is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the spare time on your hands and start planning for what happens when you’re no longer here. Speaking about wills and death is not necessarily anyone’s preferred conversation – but taking control of your affairs and knowing what will happen to your loved ones and your assets after your passing may set your mind at ease.

As a point of departure, let’s set out exactly what a will is.

• A will is a written document in which you set out your wishes and instructions about what should be done with your remains, assets and family members, which of course should also meet the legal requirements set out by the laws of our country.  
• A will is a necessity and many legal practitioners highly recommend having your will written up, irrespective of age or health status in order to prevent unwanted people from inheriting, in order to speed up the administration process and of course to give you control of specific assets which you may want to leave to specific beneficiaries.
• In a nutshell, if you don’t already have a will – have one written up. It is relatively inexpensive and is not as time consuming as many people believe. If you have minor children, this may be especially important for deciding who the legal guardian of your children will be in the event of your passing.

If you already have a will, it may be a good idea to dust it off and have another look at it.

• Have you had more children?  
• Perhaps you have acquired a new property or moved into a new home.
• Your will should at all times reflect your current situation with all life changes.

We at Burden Swart & Botha Attorneys would be honored to assist you, even while in ‘lockdown’, in drafting a basic will, free of charge.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for professional advice.