With assets in multiple countries, the inevitable question becomes – how many Wills must I now have?

This article delves into the question as to whether or not the Will that you have is valid or invalid and the consequences thereof.

Wills - the Do’s and the Don’ts - What should you not put in to your will? How often should I update my will? Can I amend my will without telling my spouse? Can I put my dog in my will?

Because the passing away of a loved one leaves families (and friends) in pieces, not knowing which way to turn first. So let’s make it easier on them and ensure that your estate is perfectly set up long before you shuffle off your mortal coil. Be the early bird and help your beneficiaries catch the worm… the first step – your will.

In order to bring a sense of calm during this period of panic, it is recommended that you get your affairs in order and seek professional assistance, legal, financial and tax, relating to your estate as a whole. We are specialist private client attorneys and we are here to help you through this tumultuous time.

Choosing an executor can be stressful, particularly if you have more than one child, a complicated estate (i.e., many assets or debts), or you anticipate conflict among your beneficiaries. Here are some guidelines you can follow to facilitate the process.

Although it may seem like a good idea to draft your own will, in the long run it will cost more in terms of time and money than getting a qualified attorney to assist with doing it properly.

We recommend that you have separate offshore wills for every country in which you own offshore assets. The offshore will/s specifically deals with the distribution of your foreign assets, and is separate from your existing will, which governs your South African assets.

Ideally, your legal document should work like an efficiently planned-out road map so that the Master, courts and others in the legal profession will all understand exactly what your directions are and how to get to the intended destination. The statutes and the provisions in the document work together to accomplish this.

A number of provisions are typically included in wills to facilitate the administration of the deceased estate, avoid ambiguity, and ensure that all property is disposed of in accordance with the testator’s wishes. Here are some of them.