estate planning

A trust can also be used effectively to provide financially for children with severe mental or physical disabilities and who, as a result of their disability, are unable to manage their own affairs. In a situation where a child has
The framework of the Common Reporting Standard is such that an obligation to provide and report account holder information to the various tax administration offices in the participating jurisdictions is placed on financial institutions. This includes a number of steps
If you’re planning to do renovations to your new home, you may need to budget for the services of a draughtsman or architect if your renovations require plans to be drawn up. Other costs to factor in include security upgrades
Before setting up the trust, you will need to consider whether it should take the form of a testamentary or living trust. A living, or inter vivos, trust is set up during your lifetime using a trust deed as the
While South Africans enjoy freedom of testation, this freedom has a number of limitations, with Section 37 being one of them. The Act makes it clear that the member’s Will or beneficiary nomination cannot override the provisions of Section 37C,
If you intend bequeathing immoveable property, be careful in your estate planning to ensure that no complications or unintended consequences arise. For instance, if you are married in community of property, any immoveable property will be jointly owned by you
It is important that you give careful thought to those you intending to nominate as trustees as you will effectively be entrusting them with an enormous responsibility – keeping in mind that you will no longer be around when their
If you have a Will, it is likely that the Latin term per stirpes appears in your Will. Per stirpes is a legal stipulation which requires that if one of your beneficiaries dies before you, her share of the inheritance
Endowments also offer tax benefits to investors with a marginal tax rate of more than 30% as it will reduce the tax payable on investment growth. However, it is important to bear in mind that endowments have restricted investment terms
Another mechanism for ensuring effective succession planning is by nominating beneficiaries to your life policy or living annuity. If you wish to provide capital to your spouse and/or children in the event of your death, taking out life cover is