When someone passes away, their financial affairs do not end immediately. Before assets can be transferred to beneficiaries, the deceased person’s estate must go through a legal administration process known as winding up the estate. One of the most common...
Being appointed as the executor of a deceased estate is often seen as an honour and a sign of trust. However, it is also a significant legal responsibility. An executor is expected to administer the estate correctly, comply with South African law, and protect the...
When a person is married in community of property and spouse dies, the deceased estate administration process can be more complex than many families expect. This is because the spouses do not have two completely separate estates. Instead, they share one joint estate...
When a loved one passes away, there is often much more to deal with than grief alone. Assets need to be collected, debts settled, taxes finalised, and inheritances distributed correctly. This process can quickly become complicated, especially when legal requirements...
Finding out that you’ve been named executor in someone’s Will can feel like an honour and a burden at the same time. Many people think, “I am executor, but I have no idea what this involves.” That reaction is normal. In South Africa, executorship is a formal fiduciary...
When someone passes away, there is often an immediate assumption that the Will “takes care of everything”. In reality, a Will is only the instruction manual. The person who must turn those instructions into real-world outcomes is the executor. In South Africa,...
