Providing for your family if something happens to you is a priority for every parent. There are several things a member of the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) needs to do to make sure their financial dependants are taken care of. Update...
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Is a living will legally valid and enforceable?
Juan Buys, Fiduciary Specialist at PPS Fiduciary Services, explains that a living will may not always be enforceable. Sometimes family members face a difficult situation when a decision has to be made about a loved one in circumstances in which...
Beware the pitfalls of bequeathing property
When bequeathing property, make sure you have done your estate planning properly. For most middle-class families, the primary residence is the most valuable asset in their estate, as retirement funds fall outside of one’s estate. It is not uncommon...
Who will inherit your property?
When a person dies intestate (which means without a will), it can become a legal and financial nightmare. If you have property, it’s important to have a will in place which takes the law into account (such as the type of marriage contract you...
Unmarried couples and death – how to protect yourself and your partner
David Knott of Private Client Trust explains how unmarried couples can protect themselves in the unfortunate event that one partner dies. Many unmarried couples mistakenly believe that they are protected as “common law” spouses. However, South...
How your marital regime affects estate planning
Christel Botha, fiduciary services manager at Alexander Forbes, looks at the impact that various marriage contracts have in the event of the death of a spouse. The month of love has arrived, and many couples will be getting married, or planning a...
Video: Review your will
Last week was National Wills Week, which is always a great reminder to review your will. If you don’t have one, make sure you prioritise this immediately. To find out more about what should be in your will and what makes a will valid, I am speaking...
Unmarried couples must ensure they have a valid will
By Elmien Pols, Private Client Trust In these interesting times in which we find ourselves, it is not unusual for people to live together, have children, buy properties and run a business together without formalising their relationship, either...
Money Makeover: Planning for when you’re no longer around
Our Money Makeover candidates are all parents, so estate planning is a particularly important part of their financial plan. Read this article to get tips on what to look for when drawing up your will and making sure you have tax-effective estate...
Video: Make sure your will carries out your wishes
A will is a very important document as it makes sure your wishes are carried out and protects your children when you no longer can. However, there are circumstances where your wishes can be superseded. Your retirement funds do not fall under your...
Previous Articles
Listen: Does your will reflect your wishes?
Who should you select as an executor and what happens to your retirement funds when you die? Maya (@mayaonmoney) and Mapalo (@womanandfinance) unpack what you need to consider when writing up your will. Further reading: What should you include in your will?...
Your retirement benefits may not end up where you plan
If you are formally employed you might have been required to join your company’s contracted retirement scheme, and they would have asked you to nominate a beneficiary for the proceeds in case you die before retirement. However, if you chose a beneficiary that is not...
Video: What should you include in your will?
A valid will ensures your wishes are carried out, makes it easier for your family, and protects your children when you no longer can. You need to nominate an executor to administer the deceased estate. You can appoint a professional executor or nominate a responsible...
A financial survival guide to divorce
Facing the breakdown of your marriage can be extremely painful emotionally, but with the right knowledge and planning, it needn’t be financially devastating as well, says Citadel Advisory Partner Kirsten Smit. “Getting divorced carries enormous financial implications,...
Godparent vs Guardian: debunking the myths
By David Thomson, Senior Legal Adviser at Sanlam Trust Whether you are a godparent or you’ve asked someone else to be your child’s godparent, do you have clarity on what the term actually means? There is a critical difference between a godparent and a legal guardian...
Common mistakes when drafting a Will and how they impact your wishes
By Kezia Talbot, Legal Advisor and Remay de Kock, Legal Adviser at BDO SA. It is officially National Wills Week. Wills can get quite tricky – there are several common mistakes that are made when drafting a Will that can have a serious impact on your wishes. One of the...
Can a mistress inherit from a married man’s estate?
Marilyn Monroe, Marla Maples, Michelle McGee, and Kristen Stewart – all successful women in their own right, with one controversial commonality – they were mistresses to married men. The term ‘mistress’ is an inflammatory one – a name as complicated as its legal...
How to stick to your financial resolutions
The secret to a successful resolution is to keep it simple and to break it down to something manageable. Financial change starts one step at a time. Instead of saying “I am going to be debt free,” rather select one debt that you are committed to paying off in 2017. If...
Spouses need to review their finances
Changes to the taxation of estates could leave a surviving spouse with a hefty tax bill. Last month the Davis Tax Committee (DTC) issued an update on its tax recommendations especially around so-called “death taxes”. Some of the key recommendations are to remove...
Don’t get caught out by a poorly thought-out Will
By David Knott, fiduciary expert at Private Client Trust Buying insurance, and drafting and updating your Will, can be put next to each other on the list of things that we don’t really want to do, and often put off doing. For many of us insurance is a grudge purchase,...