Klerksdorp Midweek, Klerksdorp - Since 2008, the Law Society of South Africa has afforded all South Africans the right to draft their will for free, despite the amount of assets they have, so please use the opportunity and do not leave your family on financial limbo. Molefi Churchill Molefi, communication practitioner at Legal Aid SA, said more than 70% of South Africans pass away each year without a will, according to a recent report by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority. This frequently leaves families in financial distress. People dying without leaving a will leave billions of rand in legal uncertainty each year.
The majority of people believe that for a person to have a valid will, one must have a lot of assets and money.
Growing up in a village, once the word will is mentioned, the person was considered to be very rich and he was classified as having worked for a huge reputable company.
“Since joining Legal Aid South Africa, I realized that drafting a will is simpler, cost-effective, and, despite the amount of assets or money you have, every South African is afforded a five-day opportunity every year to draft their Will for free.
Thanks to the initiative by the South African Law Society, which created the first Wills Week in 2008, which has been a successful platform for all South Africans to draft their wills for free.”
In many families, especially African families, people still believe that talking about estate planning is taboo.
During Wills Week, thousands of attorneys join various outreaches and generously contribute their expertise in empowering South Africans about estate planning. The wealthy are not the only ones who should worry about estate planning; any person who wants to maintain the well-being of their departed loved ones and guarantee a seamless transfer of assets must take this into account.
A will is a piece of paper that is more important than many people realise. All South Africans must use Wills Week effectively to understand that estate planning is an important aspect of financial planning.
- Wills Week lasts till September 19. Visit Legal Aid or any lawyer to enquire about this programme.
