Wills & Estate Administration
A will is one of the most important documents that you can have drawn up during your lifetime. It is a legal document that ensures that your belongings (i.e. assets / property) are divided among your chosen beneficiaries after date of death. Any individual of 16 years and older, who is able to understand the results of his/her actions, and owns assets, can draw up a will. However, bear in mind that a will is only considered valid if it meets certain legal requirements. If these validity requirements are not met, the Master of the High Court, will render your will invalid, and you will therefore pass away without a will.
In the absence of a valid will, your estate will devolve according to the Intestate Succession Act, 1987 (Act 81 of 1987). This means that your estate will be divided according to a set formula, amongst beneficiaries and/or estranged family members that you have no relationship with. The worst scenario being that if you have no relatives and/or next-of-kin, your assets will be inherited by the Government. Thus, a clear, well-written will can ensure that loved ones are made aware of your final wishes, with the added bonus of family disputes being avoided.
A will also enables you to nominate guardians, in the event that you have minor children, or the creation of a testamentary trust (mortis causa trust). The former trust will protect and preserve your minor beneficiaries’ assets until they attain the age of majority, with the added benefit that their monthly expenses will also be taken care of.
Etienne Bedeker on the importance of a will & Testament.
It is therefore essential that you obtain advice from a specialist and qualified professional in the field, i.e. an attorney, to assist you with the drafting of your will. Here at Etienne Bedeker Inc. we are well equipped to assist you with the drafting of your will in order to protect your hard earned assets for generations to come. We pride ourselves on professional and personalised one-on-one service, to assist you every step of the way with your legal journey with us.
Deceased Estates
We understand that the loss of a loved one is traumatic, and the process of winding up their estate can be very painful and complex.
The Etienne Bedeker Team is here for you. We will assist you through this difficult time by attending to the winding up of your deceased loved one’s estate in a professional manner, and with the necessary help and guidance to get his/her affairs in order swiftly.
Ensure that your loved one’s estate is administered efficiently and allow us to ensure a smooth transaction from start to finish. We are specialists in the field and will act as an executor or executor’s agent of the deceased estate.
Contact us today to lessen your burden in this difficult time.