All participating attorneys will display posters with their contact details so that members of the public can make appointments with attorneys in their area.
"By ensuring that you have a valid will you as the testator can protect the interests of your loved ones and ensure that there is no delay in settling your estate after your death. It also ensures that your executor will act according to your wishes as set out in your will.
A valid will allows you to state who should inherit your assets and property, to appoint an exe-cutor of your choice for your estate and also a guardian for your minor children," say Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) co-chairpersons, Kathleen Matolo-Dlepu and David Bekker.
Why should an attorney draft your will?
A practising attorney has the necessary knowledge and expertise to ensure that your will is valid by complying with all the legal requirements in the Wills Act and also that it complies with your wishes.
Often a will is not valid because the person who drafts it does not have the necessary legal knowledge to ensure that all the legal requirements of the Wills Act are met.
These include the fact that the will must be in writing, it must be signed by the testator in the presence of at least two competent witnesses and also signed by the witnesses.
What could happen to your estate if you die without a valid will?
Your assets may not be left to the person of your choice.
It can take a longer time to have an executor appointed. The executor who is appointed may be somebody you may not have chosen yourself.
There could be extra and unnecessary costs.
There could be unhappiness and conflict among members of your family because there are no clear instructions on how to distribute your assets.
Where to find an attorney to draft your will
All attorneys participating in the National Wills Week project can be accessed on the LSSA website at www.LSSA.org.za. Alternatively, call the relevant provincial law society for attorneys in:
- Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West call the Law Society of the Northern Provinces on 012 338 5800
- The Western, Eastern and Northern Cape call the Cape Law Society on 021 443 6700
- Free State call the Law Society of the Free State on 051 447 3237
- KwaZulu-Natal call the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society on 033 345 1304
- Or call the Law Society of South Africa on 012 366 8800.
