Tips for drafting a will:
- Keep your will updated when your life circumstances change, for example a birth or death occurs
- When creating your will, consider who you leave your assets to carefully. Leaving unspecified assets to multiple beneficiaries could lead to issues, for example, fighting over trying to share a house inherited by two people
- If you have children younger than 18, you should appoint someone as their legal guardian in the event of your death
- Create a testamentary trust to protect children younger than 18 who stand to inherent possessions when you die
- Nominate an executor in your will. An executor is the person tasked with the administration of your estate when you die. An executor also assists with the distribution of your assets to the beneficiaries stipulated in your will
- Heirs (the legal inheritors of something) must be clearly identified by full names, surname, relationship and identity number
- Ensure that you understand each clause in the drafted document and that the will accurately reflects your wishes
- You must ensure that each page of the Will, including the last page, is signed by yourself(testator). The Will must also be signed by two competent witnesses. A person will qualify to be a competent witness if s/he is 14 (fourteen) years of age or older.
Date added: December 2018