Why must you have a will?
By making a will, you ensure that your assets are disposed of in accordance with your wishes after your death. This privilege is called “freedom of testation”.

Why should an attorney draft your will?
Attorneys are qualified professionals. An attorney can advise you on any problem which may arise with regard to your will. An attorney has the necessary knowledge and expertise to ensure that your will:
• is valid; and
• 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 the requirements of the law are met.
What happens to your estate if you die without a valid will?
If you die without leaving a valid will, your assets will be distributed according to the provisions of the Intestate Succession Act. The provisions of this Act are generally fair and ensure that your possessions are transferred to your spouse and children.
BUT, the following problems may arise if you die without leaving a will:
• your assets may not be left to the persons of your choice;
• it can take a long time to have an executor appointed and the executor who is appointed may be somebody you may not have chosen yourself;
• there can be extra and unnecessary costs; and
• there can be unhappiness and conflict among members of your family, because there are no clear instructions on how to distribute your assets. Many attorneys will write a basic will for you, free of charge, during National Wills Week between September 16 and 20 September.

Conditions:
• only attorneys participating in the National Wills Week project will write your will for free;
• only from September 16 to 20;
• only a basic will and testament will be written – no amendments or redrafting of existing wills; and
• make an appointment with an attorney participating in the Wills Week project.

Where to find an attorney to write your will:
For contact details of an attorney in your area who will write a free will for you, contact the Legal Practice Council Provincial Office in your region: Legal Practice Council KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Office – telephone number 033-345-1304.
Estcourt and surrounding areas: Lombard-Badenhorst Inc (the only attorneys participating in Estcourt). 55 Canon Rogers Road (corner of Wagen Road), Drakensview, Estcourt, 3310. Telephone number: 036-352-3133 or 062-781-1234.

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