Who Should Draft My Will?

Who should draft my will?

Very often people draft their own wills, get a free will from the internet or from a big company.

There is no such thing as a free will. If your will is drafted by you or someone that does not have the requisite knowledge then the cost of the will, will become huge if it has to be taken to court for non-compliance or if the person drafting the will did not have the knowledge of the consequences of the vast array of legislation that must be considered when drafting a will properly. To name a few that are very relevant and not always understood:

– The wills act.

– The intestate succession act

– The maintenance of surviving spouses act.

– The estate duty act.

– The deeds registries act.

– The subdivision of agricultural land act.

– The administration of deceased estates act.

– The matrimonial property act.

– The civil union act

– The recognition of customary marriages act.

It is recommended that you seek the advice of a professional that has experience in drafting and administering estates. This kind of person will understand the pitfalls that occur in the administration when the will is not properly drafted.

Further, these large institutions/companies try to sell you insurance which adds up over the years and when the time comes, and the policy must now cover the costs of the estate and your heirs discover all the clauses and catches to the policy. These large institutions and companies will not negotiate the fee with your heirs. Remember that you were the client and you have now died. It is almost impossible for the heirs to negotiate anything at all with them. You will not be there to say what you were told by the agent selling you the policy. To name a few that are very relevant and not always understood.

At J Bredenkamp Inc- Executor Law we charge between R500 to R 1500 plus vat for a simple will and between R1500 and R5000 plus vat for a more complex will. We are happy to negotiate a fee, to administer your estate with you or your heirs.

Contact us today to draft your will or administer your loved one’s estate compassionately and professionally.