In H J Barker’s book, ‘The drafting of Wills’, he says that this is “one of the most solemn and sacred juristic acts a person can perform.
In H J Barker’s book, ‘The drafting of Wills’, he says that this is “one of the most solemn and sacred juristic acts a person can perform. A will represents a person’s last wishes, and allows him to give expression to his gratitude towards, his sense of responsibility to and his concern for the welfare of those whom he leaves behind.”
In brief a will sets out the details of how your assets will be distributed after your death. You have the freedom of testation to decide who should inherit what. In South Africa there is no legislation that prescribes specific portions to be bestowed upon specific members of your family. One may however have to consider the tenets of the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act, the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, Section 37C of the Pension Funds Act, Section 6 of the Immovable Property Act as well as the legal obligations for maintenance of dependents.
Should you have minor children who are not survived by a natural guardian, you have the option to elect who should take care of your children after your death. At the same time consider creating a trust to provide for minor beneficiaries and other dependants who need protection.
From a practical viewpoint, having a will also means that you can choose who should administer your estate. In other words, someone suitably qualified and experienced enough to give effect to the wishes in your will. The nomination of an executor of choice speeds up the appointment process and as a result the finalisation of the estate.
- Following are a few considerations pertaining to your will:
- Keep it straightforward and simple as far as possible.
- Keep it feasible and practical.
- Understand the consequences.
- Consider the consequences of an accrual claim, if applicable.
- The implications on your existing will if you have recently divorced.
- Keep it up to date.
- Ensure liquidity.
- Provide for substitution beneficiaries.
In practice we have found that properly drafted wills may avoid conflicts and disagreements amongst family and that our clients have peace of mind once their wills are signed.
For more information about Estate Planning, here is the link to our recent Estate Planning Presentation.
https://ultimafp.co.za/tech-event-estate-planning-slides/
Hoekom jy ‘n Testament nodig het
In H J Barker se boek: ‘The drafting of Wills’, sê hy die volgende: “one of the most solemn and sacred juristic acts a person can perform.
In H J Barker se boek: ‘The drafting of Wills’, sê hy die volgende: “one of the most solemn and sacred juristic acts a person can perform. A will represents a person’s last wishes, and allows him to give expression to his gratitude towards, his sense of responsibility to and his concern for the welfare of those whom he leaves behind.”
‘n Testament gee die besonderhede van hoe jou bates na jou dood verdeel moet word. Jy het die testeervryheid om te besluit wie wat moet erf. In Suid-Afrika is daar geen wetgewing wat voorskryf wat aan spesifieke lede van jou familie toegewys moet word nie. By die opstel van ‘n testament is dit belangrik om die beginsels van die Wet op Onderhoud van Langslewende Gades, die Wet op Onderverdeling van Landbougrond, Artikel 37C van die Wet op Pensioenfondse, Artikel 6 van die Wet op Onroerende Eiendom asook die wetlike verpligtinge vir onderhoud van afhanklikes in oorweging te bring.
Indien jy minderjarige kinders het wat nie deur ‘n natuurlike voog oorleef word nie, het jy die keuse om ‘n voog wat jou kinders sal versorg na jou dood aan te wys. Terselfdertyd kan jy oorweeg om ‘n Trust te skep wat voorsiening sal maak vir minderjarige begunstigdes en ander afhanklikes wat beskerming nodig het.
Vanuit ‘n praktiese oogpunt beteken dit ook dat as jy ‘n testament het, jy kan kies wie jou boedel moet administreer. Jy kan dus ‘n persoon aanwys wat geskikte kwalifikasies en ondervinding het om die wense van jou testament uit te voer. Die benoeming van ‘n eksekuteur vergemaklik die aanstellingsproses en gevolglik die afhandeling van die boedel.
- Hiermee ‘n paar oorwegings met betrekking tot u testament:
- Hou die testament so eenvoudig as moontlik.
- Hou die testament haalbaar en prakties.
- Verstaan die gevolge.
- Oorweeg die gevolge van ‘n aanwas eis, indien van toepassing.
- Oorweeg die implikasies op u bestaande testament as u onlangs geskei is.
- Hou die testament op datum.
- Verseker likiditeit.
- Maak voorsiening vir plaasvervanger begunstigdes.In die praktyk het ons gevind dat ‘n behoorlik opgestelde testament konflik en meningsverskille tussen familie kan vermy, en dat ons kliënte gemoedsrus het wanneer die testament onderteken word.
Vir meer inligting oor Boedel beplanning, verwys na die skakel oor ons onlangse Boedel beplanning voorlegging.
https://ultimafp.co.za/tech-event-estate-planning-slides/