Securing your legacy requires more than just a document; it requires a strategic framework that accounts for South African tax laws, family dynamics, and the long-term preservation of wealth. Our firm provides comprehensive fiduciary services to ensure your intentions are honored and your loved ones are protected.

Below is an overview of our Wills and Estate Planning services.

Professional will drafting & codicils

A valid Will is the cornerstone of any estate plan. We ensure your Will complies with the Wills Act 7 of 1953, preventing the complications of intestate succession.

• Tailored Wills: Drafting clear instructions for asset distribution to heirs and legatees.
• Codicils: Updating existing Wills to reflect life changes (marriage, birth of a child, or divorce).
• Foreign Wills: Managing estate planning for clients with offshore assets to ensure cross-border legal compliance.

Trust formation & administration

Trusts are powerful tools for asset protection and tax efficiency. We specialize in:

• Testamentary Trusts: Created within your Will to protect the inheritance of minor children or vulnerable beneficiaries.
• Inter Vivos (Living) Trusts: Established during your lifetime for growth, asset protection from creditors, and probate avoidance.
• Trust Governance: Advising trustees on their fiduciary duties and ensuring compliance with the Trust Property Control Act.

Estate tax & liquidity planning

We perform a detailed “Liquidity Assessment” to ensure your estate has sufficient cash to cover obligations without forcing the sale of family assets.

• Tax Minimization: Strategic planning to manage Estate Duty (currently 20% on the first R30 million), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), and Executor’s fees.
• Liquidity Solutions: Using tools like life insurance and donations to ensure there are funds to cover debts, taxes, and funeral costs.

Advance healthcare directives

Estate planning is as much about your life as it is about your passing. We assist in drafting:

• Living Wills: Providing clear directives on medical intervention and end-of-life care when you can no longer speak for yourself.
• Powers of Attorney: Appointing a trusted individual to manage your financial affairs should you become incapacitated.

Deceased estate administration

Our firm acts as, or assists, the Executor in winding up estates through the Master of the High Court.

• Letters of Executorship: Facilitating the formal appointment of an Executor.
• Liquidation & Distribution: Drafting the formal accounts, settling liabilities, and transferring property (conveyancing) to heirs.
• Dispute Resolution: Mediating and resolving claims against the estate or inheritance disputes among beneficiaries.