When you draft a “free” will through a bank or fiduciary company, they usually nominate themselves as the executor. While this seems convenient, executor fees in South Africa are capped at a statutory maximum of 3.5% of the total estate value plus...
Stacy Wallace, Estate Planning expert at Hobbs Sinclair Legacy, explains how you can ease the administrative burden on your loved ones after your death by compiling a comprehensive ‘When I’m Gone’ file. Few people enjoy thinking about the practical...
Greg Bradfield, Wealth Manager at Alexforbes, explains what you should do to prevent financial chaos if you should receive a terminal diagnosis. Most financial plans are built on hope – hope for long lives and long retirements, that children will...
There is a lot of confusion around when you are considered married under customary law in South Africa. This point has become crucial after a recent Constitutional Court ruling. Last year I spoke to divorce mediator and attorney Lerato Seroke about...
Dying without a will could cause delays in winding up your estate, and your assets might not be distributed according to your wishes. Get your will drafted for free during National Wills Week, from September 15-19 2025. Former One Direction star,...
Over the last few weeks, I asked many single moms what their greatest concerns were regarding drawing up a will. I collected the many questions and concerns that were sent to me, and sat down with fiduciary expert Deenisha Nadesan of Capital Legacy...
As a single mom, planning for your child’s future is essential, especially if you’re not on good terms with the other parent. In this article, David Thomson, Senior Legal Adviser at Sanlam Trust, provides insights on guardianship and estate...
Have you made provision for who should care for your beloved animal friends after your death? A giant ginger cat called Kevin. A tiny guinea pig named Didi. Cheetah the Doberman. Many of us have pets we’ll never forget. They love us...
September is Wills Month, a Capital Legacy initiative inspired by National Wills Week, aiming to help more South Africans get their wills drafted at no cost. Having a valid will is essential, but many of us delay it due to time constraints. Did you...
Losing a loved one is hard. It’s even more difficult to deal with such a loss in the face of long and complicated estate administration processes. It can become emotionally and financially taxing. In South Africa, it is not uncommon for a deceased...
Carl Coetzee, Joint MD of Capital Legacy, has some valuable advice and tips for homeowners when it comes to estate planning. If you own a home of your own, have you thought about what will happen to it one day when you pass away? With as many as 70% of South Africans...
When we think of intergenerational wealth, we often think of trusts and the proverbial trust-fund baby. While trusts can be a great way to house intergenerational wealth, over the last ten years there have been significant changes to laws that affect the way trusts...
When you get married, there are so many exciting things to focus on like the wedding dress, invitations, and the honeymoon. And when you have a child, your life becomes so busy as you care for your growing family. The last thing you want to think about are the...
Is it better to use life cover or an education protection plan to ensure that your child’s education is provided for in the event of your death? Every September, which is “Wills Month”, there is a focus on estate planning and drawing up your will. If you are...
A will allows you to provide for your family and removes complications after you pass away, but if you die without a will, it could cause delays in winding up your estate and your wishes may not be carried out. “Through years of winding up deceased estates, we see on...
If your retirement fund and group life cover make up the largest portion of your assets, a beneficiary fund may be a simple and cost-effective way to ensure that your minor child receives a regular income if something should happen to you. Your retirement funds do not...
One of the most important tasks that the Absa/City Press Money Makeover candidates need to fulfil, is to write up a will. We spend so much time and energy on our families and making many sacrifices for them, yet most parents have not taken the time to ensure that...
September is Wills Month and in this podcast, we discuss how you can use your will to protect your child’s legacy. Maya speaks to Alex Simeonides, CEO of Capital Legacy, about how parents can navigate the complexities of estate planning. Navigating grief with a...
While a new bill will give a life partner the same legal rights as a spouse, the precise definition of a life partnership still remains uncertain. Later this year the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill will come into law. The Bill will give partners in a life partnership...
In an act of frustration, the Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (FISA) recently issued a press release raising concerns about delays in winding-up estates. FISA called on all banks “to investigate why it takes months to provide basic information to Executors to...