Making a Will | Western Cape Government

Making a Will

Description:

When you die, your estate is divided between your family or the people that you would want to have inherit from you. Your estate consists of your personal property and possessions, as well as any money or other assets you own.

Who your property is passed on to depends on whether you have a valid will or not. If you have a valid will then the items within your estate will be divided according to your wishes. If you die without a will (called intestate) then your property will be divided amongst your immediate family according to the laws of intestate succession.

Creating a valid will

If you're older than 16, you can make a will stating who you want your property to go to when you die. For your will to be valid it needs to be drawn up correctly. You 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.

When compiling a will, make sure that:Setting up a will

  • You’re mentally competent and that you understand the consequences of creating a will.
  • The will is in writing.
  • Two people older than 14 years of age witness the making of the will (these witnesses can’t be beneficiaries of the will).
  • You have initialled every page of the will and added your full signature to the last page of the will, in the presence of the witnesses.
  • The witnesses have initialled and signed the will.

In your will you can:

  • Appoint an executor.
  • Divide up your property.

An executor is the person who will make sure that your property is divided according to your wishes, as set out in your will. The executor also settles your outstanding debts. If you don't choose an executor, the court will appoint someone to be the executor; this is usually a family member.

You can get a lawyer to help you to draw up a will or you can get an easy-to-complete will form from a stationary shop.

Need help drafting a will? Get tips and legal guidance on how to make a start. 


Divorce and your will

It’s important to amend your existing will within 3 months of your divorce unless you want your former spouse to inherit. If you don’t change your will after your divorce, your former spouse will inherit according to your existing will.


Make a file 

Keep your will in a file or folder along with other documents that might make it easier for the people you leave behind.

This could include:

  • a list of your investments,
  • a list of your assets,
  • contact details of the executor dealing with your will, and
  • a letter of wishes could be included in the file which explains to your heirs why you bequeathed certain items to certain people or how you wish them to use their inheritance.

Note: this isn’t a binding legal document, but it explains why you put something in the will.

Make sure that you store all documents in a safe place like a bank or a secure safe at your house.


Dying without a will

If you don't have a valid will when you die, your property is divided according to the rules set out by the law. These provisions are generally fair and ensure your possessions are transferred to your spouse and children, and where applicable, to siblings, parents, and if required, then to the extended family in terms of degrees of relationships.

Some problems may arise if you die without leaving a will.

This can include:

  • Your assets not being left to the person of your choice.
  • It can take longer to have an executor appointed.
  • The executor who’s appointed may be somebody you may not have preferred.
  • There could be extra and unnecessary costs.
  • There could be unhappiness and conflict among members of your family because there are no clear instructions on how to distribute your assets.

Different rules apply under customary law.

Should you require any more information about a will, you can visit the Department of Justice website

Instructions:

For more information on wills and deceased estates, visit the Department of Justice website.

Provided by:
Government Body: (The Government of South Africa)
The content on this page was last updated on 23 February 2023