Frequenty asked questions

More than 70% of South Africans don’t have a Will and will pass away leaving their families, in particular their children, in a very uncomfortable position and potentially facing financial ruin. Estate duties, conveyancing costs, trustees’ fees and other legal fees can amount to hundreds of thousands of Rands, which many people simply cannot afford. Make a Will stands for making a difference.

Make a Will introduce you to Capital Legacy Solutions (Pty) Ltd who is a Financial Services Provider (FSP Number 43826) who provide all services listed on this website. Should you wish to take out a low-cost insurance policy to cover the costs of dying, Make a Will receives a small commission. You are under no obligation to take out one of their low-cost policies.

20% of Make a Will’s commission is donated annually to St. Michael’s Child and Youth Care Centre. St. Michael’s houses up to 25 girls ages 13-18 and aims to create an environment that allows girls to connect with the essence of womanhood, to develop strength, and to grow and flourish. You can donate directly or sponsor a youth here or contact Michelle Linger Director at St Michael’s on +27 21 797 4186 or by emailing her at director@stmikesct.org.za.

If you die without a Will, the Master of the High Court will be involved in the distribution of your estate in accordance with the laws Intestate succession. This may not be how you wish your estate to be divided - meaning that persons you would have preferred not inherit from you could do so, and those you would like to leave something to inherit nothing.

• There is a big risk that your home could be sold to cover thousands of Rands worth of lawyer/executor/trustee fees (read about a Low-cost insurance)
• There could be years’ worth of delays before your family, particularly children, receive the full benefit of your estate
• Your children may not have the guardian you would have chosen

Depending on the complexity of your requirements it typically takes between 20 and 40 minutes to complete a Will... in the convenience of your own home, workplace or a local coffee shop.

You should create and update your Will as soon as you possible.

You should also update your Will periodically to ensure that it meets both yours and your family’s requirements. Typically, this may be when:

• You’ve just married or plan to marry
• You’ve just finalised your divorce
• You’ve had a baby or are planning to do so
• You’ve purchased a home or other asset like a car, taken out life insurance or other investments of any size
• You’ve had a change to your health
• You’re looking to retire and may already have grandchildren
• You either have a business or are starting one
• You wish to change the guardians of any children you may have
• You wish to change the executors or trustees’ names in your Will
• You experience the death of a beneficiary already mentioned in your Will

The costs of winding up your estate when you die could amount to thousands of Rands, depending on the value of your overall estate – even if you perceive this value to be small.