Wills and Estate Planning
Trustees have a fiduciary duty to manage the trust assets in the interests of the beneficiaries and in line with the terms and conditions set out in the Will. It is essential to nominate trustees who have the knowledge and
If you intend becoming a stay-at-home spouse, think carefully about the consequences of losing your financial freedom at such a young age. Not only can not generating an income shift the dynamics of your relationship, it can also create feelings
In order for your Will to be valid and to avoid contestation, ensure that you sign your Will in the presence of your witnesses and that you, in turn, watch them witness your signature. The validity of your Will can
You are not able to appoint beneficiaries to your unit trust investments as, in the event of your death, the proceeds will fall within your estate and will be distributed in accordance with your wishes. Keep in mind that the
If you are awarded a share in your spouse’s pension interest as part of your divorce settlement, it is imperative to get sound financial advice in this regard. There are a number of options available to you, all of which
It is possible for the trust founder to set up an inter vivos trust to ensure that certain assets are protected for the benefit of family members through the generations. In such a situation, where the trustees are all beneficiaries
Your tax commitments do not die with you and it is important to note that SARS has first claim to what is owing to them. In fact, a deceased estate cannot be finalised until your tax affairs have been fully
Depending on your circumstances, you may consider setting up a Special Trust Type A while you are still alive with your special needs child as the beneficiary to the trust. This type of trust is particularly effective when it comes
The trustees that you appoint will have a fiduciary duty to manage the trust assets in the best interests of the trust beneficiaries, and it is therefore important to choose your trustees wisely. Ideally, you should consider someone who has
Where a domestic life policy is registered under an ante-nuptial or post-nuptial contract where the spouse and/or child are the nominated beneficiaries, the proceeds of such a policy do not form part of the deceased’s dutiable estate.
