Understanding Living Wills

When one thinks of a will, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a last will and testament. This type of will expresses a person’s wishes after they have died. However, a living will, despite sharing some similarities with a last will and testament, is not the same thing. It can be described […]

Can you inherit from someone you have merely been living with?

In South Africa, the number of couples who are permanently living together in life partnerships is increasing every year. What are the consequences that would ensue if either of the partners in the relationship dies without a will? Should a surviving partner in such a scenario have a claim for inheritance or maintenance from the […]

Will-stipulated purchase option: Are there transfer duty impacts?

Any person drawing up a last will and testament, and who intends to include an option to purchase any of their properties, should be aware of the transfer duty implications such provision might bring forth. This article intends on discussing the beforementioned implications at the hands of the case of Secretary for Inland Revenue v Estate […]

Navigating the amendments to the trust property control act: Beneficial ownerships in South Africa

The Trust Property Control Act, a key piece of legislation governing South Africa’s trusts, recently underwent a substantial transformation with the passage of the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Act. This regulatory overhaul was aimed at strengthening the country’s trust governance, a direct response to its greylisting status, and has significant […]

Estate planning in South Africa: Essential questions answered

Estate planning is a critical part of financial planning, yet it often gets overlooked. This process involves drafting a will, assigning assets to beneficiaries, and understanding how a deceased estate will be administered. To shed light on this topic, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about estate planning that might assist in helping […]

Properly executing a Will is extremely important

I gave instructions to my attorney to prepare a last will and testament for me as my will no longer reflected my wishes. At my request, my attorney emailed the will to me with clear instructions as to how I should go about signing it. I asked my neighbours to act and sign as witnesses. […]

Deceased’s will declared invalid, despite clear wishes

The Wills Act sets out the requirements for a valid Last Will and Testament. For a will to be valid, it must be signed and witnessed. What happens if the wishes of the deceased are clear, but the document does not meet the requirements of a valid will? This was the heart of the matter […]

Lockdown – but not in shut-down mode

Good Day valued clients of MDW Incorporated,We are all in lockdown – but not in shut-down mode. WORK FROM HOME We are equipped and ready to proceed with your matters to the best of ability as each and every one of our staff have been set up to be able to work from home or […]