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Filter: Estate Planning
Safeguarding your legacy for your children

26 March 2024

For any parent, the question of how to protect and provide for their children after their passing is a burning... concern that arises long before the first child is born. In this article, we explore how parents can safeguard their legacy for their children.

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195
Article
You must take capital gains tax into account in your estate planning

04 October 2023

When assisting clients with estate planning and discussing the tax considerations applicable to their estate upon their death, an often... misunderstood and unplanned for consequence following a death is capital gains tax (“CGT”). In this article, we take a closer look at some of the considerations that come into play with respect to CGT and how regular review of your estate plan is important to ensure that the latest tax considerations have been incorporated into your estate plan.

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107
Article
Why can deceased estates take so long to be finalised?

29 May 2023

The family of a deceased are often confronted with the harsh reality of having to wind up a deceased’s estate... after his or her passing. Usually, there is the expectation that this should go quickly, but unfortunately, the reality is that the process is hardly ever a quick one. So how long then does it take to wind up a deceased estate? 

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142
Article
Don’t forget about your will when getting married or divorced!

28 March 2023

In the highs of getting married or the lows of divorce, parties generally forget to think about their estate planning.... This is understandable as no one wants to entertain thoughts of death and division of assets during those times! Unfortunately, such an oversight can create a mess in the event of your untimely death. The golden rule is to always, when there are material changes in your life like marriage, children, divorce and even death, revisit your estate planning and bring it up to date with the necessary changes. 

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270
Article
Why you must have an independent trustee on your family trust

22 November 2022

A question often asked by clients is “why must I have an independent trustee on my family trust?” In this... article we unpack the reasons for this and how this works.

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441
Article
How should co-executors of a deceased estate act?

14 December 2021

My mother and I have been appointed as co-executors of my late father’s estate. My mother wants to sell our... family home, but I don’t want to. She has however gone ahead and signed a sale agreement without my consent. Can she do this and sell the house without my approval?

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429
Article
Can an email qualify as a last will?

14 June 2021

My aunt recently passed away suddenly due to Covid-19. In the hunt for her will, it transpired that she had... sent an email to her attorney in which she had asked for amendments to be made to her will and for some of the beneficiaries to be removed. The attorney confirmed that he had not had opportunity to draft a new will before my aunt passed. Can her email be seen as her valid last wishes?

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418
Article
Can a testator rule from the grave?

16 March 2021

I was recently appointed as the executor of a deceased estate of a family member. The provisions of the deceased’s... last will and testament are very strict and every bequest is subject to some form of condition. Do I have to adhere to the provisions of the last will and testament or did the deceased exceed his right to rule from the grave? 

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495
Article
Who can inherit from a child’s estate?

10 February 2021

I have a friend who has been looking after her grandson since birth when her daughter just walked out on... the child after he was born with deformities. My friend managed to obtain a settlement with the hospital for negligence during the birth and now takes care of the child using the money from the settlement. The child is very sick and may not have much time left with the biological mother suddenly making an appearance to try and claim the remainder of the settlement money. Surely my friend is entitled to the money having taken care of the child all her life? What is the position in law?

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506
Article