Two things are certain in life, death and taxes
When last have you reviewed your will?

Perhaps you need assistance with the administration of an estate of a deceased person.

Or perhaps you need help and advice on a curatorship.

Perhaps you are not up to speed with the adverse effects of Capital Gains Tax in a deceased estate.

It is imperative that you review your Will every two to three years or so. Circumstances change at a quick pace nowadays and one needs peace-of-mind knowing that these matters have been attended to and are in order.We will first consult with our client to take the required instruction and to guide the thinking of our client.

The Will will be prepared by us and returned to our client for signature. The original Will must be returned to us for safekeeping. The client will retain the copy for his/her/their file, together with other personal documents in a file.The usual question now arises, is it important to have a Will. Simply put, Yes and with a capital Y.

Our law makes provision for cases where a person dies without leaving a valid will. The proportions of inheritance are set out in the Laws of Intestacy Act. You may not wish to have your estate distributed along those lines. For example, in terms of the said Act, and depending upon your circumstances as at your date of death, friends will not inherit your estate. Even worse is that fact that if your have no living relative at the date of your death, your entire estate must be paid to the Master of the High Court's Guardians Fund until it is claimed by a relative that can prove his/her next-of-kinship.

By putting a Will in place that stipulates your wishes, you also may save your family much unwanted discomfort. Your Will is a legal document that leaves dealing with legal processes and the like to professionals as opposed to burdening your loved ones with this task. Your Will should avoid ambiguity and clearly state your wishes.

We cut out unnecessary jargon and make use of only the necessary legal terms, thereby assisting you to understand your Will. Your Will must also take into account your circumstances such as divorce and responsible for maintenance toward minor children, your marital regime, etc.) Any offshore property should be taken into account when preparing your Will.

Our cost structure is R250 per Will, whether mutual or single, and if we are required to consult with you at your home, the cost will be R350. The advantage is that your Will is drafted and sealed in your presence. Our application form is available in English and Afrikaans - download the form, and fax the completed form to us.Remember, a Will is not only for the rich and famous, as we all need a Will, irrespective of our asset value! Your will is probably one of the most important documents that you may have.

ExecTrust Administrators (Pty) Ltd

4 Queens Road Bryanston 2021

P O Box 1663 Jukskei Park 2153

Tel 0860 387 878

Fax 086 500 8850

E-mail info@exectrust.com