Wills & Estates Attorneys

When to hire a wills & estates attorney

• You don't have a will or your will is outdated.
• You have complex assets - trust, business, offshore holdings, or property in multiple jurisdictions.
• A family member has died and someone needs to be appointed executor.
• You are an heir disputing the validity of a will or its contents.
• You want to set up a trust for tax planning or to provide for minor children.

What to expect

For will drafting: an attorney consults with you, drafts a will, and arranges proper signing with two witnesses (strict compliance with the Wills Act). For estate administration: the executor reports the estate to the Master within 14 days of death, advertises for creditors, collects assets, pays debts, and distributes to heirs. The Liquidation and Distribution Account must lie for inspection for 21 days before finalising. Most estates take 6-18 months to wind up.

Typical fees

Will drafting: R1,500-R15,000 depending on complexity. Estate administration: executor's fee is statutory at 3.5% of gross assets plus 6% of income collected during administration (plus VAT). Contested estates (heirs disputing) cost more.

Frequently Asked Questions