Bedfordview Probus Club hosts talk on estate planning
The February Probus Bedforview meeting taught and informed attendees on the procedure and requirements of winding up an estate.
The Probus Club of Bedfordview Open Meeting had the guest speaker sharing legal and lived experiences on how one can get his/her affairs in order when planning for their inevitable demise.
The meeting, which took place on February 3 at St George’s Village in Bedfordview, had the director of AS Consulting SA, Anne-Marie Pooley, as guest speaker.
Pooley informed residents of the list of documents required to report an estate, which is the mandatory legal process of notifying the Master of the High Court within 14 days of a person’s death, as required by the Administration of Estates Act.
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Pooley advised that things have changed immensely at the Master’s because of fraud and corruption, and therefore, original documents are always required.
She also said previously, the next of kin or spouse could report an estate on their own, but now it lays with the executor.
“The Master must actually do his own vetting on this person, and only when the master is happy, does he issue the letter of this acquisition. Sometimes it can take up to 18 months to get a letter, but if your things are in order, it can take nine months. So you need to have the right person,” advised Pooley.
She advised putting all the required documentation in a file and warned that later down the line, in the process of finalising the estate, the executor should communicate with SARS to check for money owed and compliance.
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Some of the many required documents in Pooley’s form include;
• A death certificate
• Notice of death (DHA-1663-A) which is received from the hospital or funeral parlour.
• Both sides of an Identity Card
• Complete details of all the deceased’s children (including adopted children)
• Complete details of all the beneficiaries/heirs
• Deceased’s income tax reference number and complete details of the accountant of the deceased
• Complete details and reference numbers of the deceased’s employer’s pension funds
• Complete details and reference numbers of the deceased’s medical aid.
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Other applicable documents include marriage certificate, ante nuptial contract, divorce decree, firearms, and motor vehicles registration and investment shares.
Pooley advised that the original Last Will and Testament must be provided to the attorney and/or agent attending to the winding up of the estate.
The next Probus Meeting will be on March 3 with guest speaker Olivia Sievert talking about Endangered Wildlife Trust – Cheetah Project.
