Talking about life after death is a topic of conversation better kept for 'another day,' but it is essential and must be had at some point. The fact is that life is unpredictable, and anything can happen at any time.
Having a last will and testament in place is the best way to secure a future for your loved ones, leaving something (an asset like a house or insurance policy) tangible for them to better their lives for the next generation.
When you die, your estate is divided between your family or the people that you want to have inherit from you. The estate consists of your personal property and possessions, as well as any money or other assets owed by you. If you don't have a valid will in place when you die, your property is divided according to the rules set out by the law.
While drawing up a will might seem like just writing on a piece of paper, there are a couple of essential things to take note of. It is important to note that for your will to be valid, it needs to be drawn up correctly. You also need to be mentally competent; this means that you must be able to understand the consequences of creating a will. You must be in a reasonable state of mind and remember what you own.
Having a last will and testament in place is the best way to secure a future for your loved ones, leaving something (an asset like a house or insurance policy) tangible for them to better their lives for the next generation.
When you die, your estate is divided between your family or the people that you want to have inherit from you. The estate consists of your personal property and possessions, as well as any money or other assets owed by you. If you don't have a valid will in place when you die, your property is divided according to the rules set out by the law.
While drawing up a will might seem like just writing on a piece of paper, there are a couple of essential things to take note of. It is important to note that for your will to be valid, it needs to be drawn up correctly. You also need to be mentally competent; this means that you must be able to understand the consequences of creating a will. You must be in a reasonable state of mind and remember what you own.
Banks are the most common places to assist with having a will drawn up, though an attorney can also do it. Gumtree, with the assistance of Legal Wise, lists the requirements for a valid will:
- The person must be over the age of 16 (sixteen) years.
- The Will must be in writing and can either be typed or handwritten.
- Each page of the Will, including the last page, must be signed by the testator. The Will must also be signed by two competent witnesses. A person will qualify to be a competent witness if s/he is 14 (fourteen) years of age or older.
- Every page of the will must be signed and initialled in the presence of the witnesses.
Now that you’ve got the knowledge, it’s time to shop! Head to gumtree.co.za or your Gumtree app (click for Apple & Android) and don’t forget to use your location settings to find local service information close to home.
