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estate planning
18
Sep

The Guardian’s Fund: What Happens When a Minor Inherits in South Africa

September 18, 2026, ,
When a parent or grandparent dies and leaves something to a child under 18, most families assume the money simply sits safely until the child comes of age. What actually happens is more specific, and more restrictive, than most people expect. Unless a will directs otherwise, a minor’s inheritance in South Africa is paid into...
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16
Sep

Notary Public vs Commissioner of Oaths: Avoid Costly Mistakes

September 16, 2026,
Most South Africans have, at some point, needed a document “stamped by a commissioner of oaths” or signed “in front of a notary.” The two terms get used almost interchangeably in everyday conversation, and that confusion causes real problems. A document that requires notarial execution cannot be validly signed in front of a commissioner of...
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01
Sep

What Is a Conveyancer in South Africa? The Critical Guide You Need

September 1, 2026, , ,
If you have ever bought or sold a property in South Africa, you will have encountered the word conveyancer. It appears in sale agreements, in transfer cost breakdowns, and in the stream of emails that accompany any property transaction. Most buyers and sellers nod along, aware that a conveyancer is involved, less certain about what...
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13
Aug

Why Your Primary Residence Should Usually Stay Out of Your Trust

August 13, 2026,
One of the most common conversations in South African estate planning goes something like this. A client decides to set up an inter vivos trust, lists all the assets they want to transfer into it, and includes the family home almost as an afterthought. It is their most valuable asset. Surely it belongs in the...
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06
Aug

What Is a Trust Deed and What Should It Contain?

August 6, 2026,
When most South Africans think about setting up a trust, the conversation quickly turns to tax savings, asset protection, and estate duty planning. What receives far less attention, and deserves far more, is the document that makes the trust legally possible in the first place: the trust deed. A trust deed is not a formality....
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09
Jul

What Truly Happens When a Deceased Estate Has More Liabilities Than Assets in South Africa?

July 9, 2026,
Discovering that a loved one’s deceased estate has more debt than assets is a deeply unsettling experience. It raises an immediate and frightening question: does the family have to pay? And if not, what actually happens to the estate, and to the creditors who are owed money? South African law is clear on this point,...
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30
Jun

What Happens If You Die Without a Will in South Africa?

June 30, 2026,
If you die without a valid will in South Africa, your estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act — not your personal wishes. This article explains how intestate succession works, who inherits when there’s no will, and why working with Executor Law ensures your estate is managed correctly and your loved ones are...
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21
May

How Long Does It Take to Wind Up an Estate in South Africa?

May 21, 2026,
If you have recently lost a loved one and are waiting for their estate to be finalised, you are probably asking one question repeatedly: how long is this going to take? The honest answer is that winding up a deceased estate in South Africa takes between 12 and 24 months in most cases — and...
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14
May

What Is a Liquidation and Distribution Account in a Deceased Estate?

May 14, 2026,
The Liquidation and Distribution Account — often referred to simply as the “L&D account” — is one of the most important documents in the administration of a deceased estate in South Africa. It is the formal accounting of everything the executor has done: every asset collected, every debt settled, every cost paid, and every rand...
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05
May

How Your Marriage Contract Affects Your Estate

May 5, 2026,
Most South Africans know that a marriage contract determines how assets are shared between spouses during the marriage. What fewer people realise is that your marriage contract also has profound implications for what happens to your estate when you die. Understanding the connection between your matrimonial property regime and your estate planning is not optional...
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