If you or your beneficiaries have any queries or would like to make changes to the will, please contact us.

An email with instructions will be sent to the email address provided

Please review, print and sign the will

If you’ve nominated our partner insurer as the Trust company as the executor of your estate, you will need to make arrangements for the original printed and signed copy to be sent to them for safe storage in their  vault at a nominal annual fee of under R60 (fee subject to change). Please call us to arrange assistance so your original will is sent to them for safe keeping. Your original signed will is what is needed to carry out your instructions. If we have assisted with the drafting of your will we will ensure that the will is sent to them and will provide proof of the same.

We suggest that you keep copies with you and let your family know where this is kept. If we have been appointed as your Financial Advisor, we will regularly remind you to review your will and make changes as your needs change.

If you’ve nominated another party as executor, we strongly advise that you ensure that your will is safely stored and that the party you have nominated as executor is informed of this.

If a person dies without a will, it could lead to severe administrative, tax and legal problems and possibly also lead to financial losses.

In your will, you determine how your assets should be divided, and nominate an executor and trustee to take care of the division of the estate’s assets and to handle the administration of any trust assets.

You have the right to name heirs as you wish in your will. If you don’t, your assets will be divided according to the Intestate Succession Act, No 81 of 1987, after your death. This could mean that persons you would have preferred not inherit from you, could inherit.

Your will therefore determines the future of everything that you’ve built up through the years – and your heirs can be directly disadvantaged if you don’t plan correctly. Estate duty, income tax, VAT and capital gains tax (CGT) can take a big chunk out of your estate if your planning is incorrect.

If you suspect that your will might be more complicated (for instance because there are children from a previous marriage, complex business arrangements and specific wishes), then it is best to contact us.

The executor of your estate must administer your estate in terms of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965, and any other relevant Acts, and execute your estate in accordance with the stipulations of your will (or Intestate Succession Act, when applicable) under supervision of the Master of the High Court. An executor ensures that all debt enforceable against your estate, as well as the necessary tax and administration costs, are paid, and that what remains of your estate is distributed according to the terms of your will.

The executor is the company, firm or person that you appointed in your will. If you choose to draft an online will, we will automatically allocate a Sanlam executor to your estate.

The appointment of an executor is a big responsibility. You may appoint your spouse, but this is in most cases not a good idea, since your spouse could be emotionally shattered and not ready to take important financial decisions.

Without the necessary knowledge, your spouse will also not know where to get the best advice or service. Your spouse may be exposed to someone serving his own interests, in which case the estate’s funds might end up in the wrong hands.

Approaching a reputable company or section of a company specialising in wills, estates and trusts is a much safer idea:

You will enjoy the benefits of specialised experience and knowledge
Your estate will be handled deftly and professionally and you are ensured of objective advice
You enjoy complete security through internal control
Sophisticated computer systems ensure top quality service
We are partnered up with one of the best trust company in South Africa, so you will get expert management of deceased solvent estates and living and testamentary trusts.

Should you choose to draft a will with us, our Trust partner will act as the expert executor of your estate and a nominal annual fee of under R60 will be charged. This fee covers the administration costs and safe keeping of your will in a vault. Please note: If you are 65 or older, this fee will not apply to you and we will provide these services free of charge.

You will also get:

Expert management of your estate and any testamentary trusts
A 5% discount on executor’s fees (terms and conditions apply)
Safe storage of your will in a vault
Free revision of your will on request
A free living will on request. A living will allows you to detail your desires regarding medical treatment when you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious and no longer able to express informed consent, making things easier for your family.