Having a will is crucial
Residents can draft a basic will free of charge at four different law firms in the city this week, in celebration of National Wills Week.
POLOKWANE – Residents can draft a basic will free of charge at four different law firms in the city this week, in celebration of National Wills Week.
Law firms in Polokwane participating in National Wills Week are:
• Makwela and Maboga Attorneys.
• Malesela Moloto Attorneys.
• Pratt Luyt and De Lange Attorneys.
• Podu Mamabolo Attorneys.
• Henstock van den Heever Attorneys.
• P.E Mashola & Co.
To avoid disappointment, residents who are interested in drafting a basic will free of charge this week, must make an appointment before visiting one of the participating law firms.
National Wills Week, celebrated from September 15 to 19, is a joint initiative of six constituent members of the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA), the Cape Town Law Society, the Law Society of Free State, the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society, the Law Society of Northern Province, the Black Lawyer Association, and the National Association of Democratic Lawyers.
Malesela Moloto from Malesela Moloto Attorneys said a will was the most important basic legal document for any person.
According to Moloto a will allowed the person to decide, while they were still alive, who should get his or her assets. If a person died without a will, family members could fight over the deceased’s assets but a will prevented this from happening and ensured the right people received the deceased’s assets according to his or her wishes in the will, Moloto explained.
Important documents needed when drafting a will is a copy of the person’s identification document (ID) and a list of the assets which the person wish to add in the will, Moloto said.
“The process is very simple and informal, like a conversation between the signatory and the attorney. The signatory gives a list of all the assets which he or she wish to add to the will. It is important to give as much details about the assets for example, if it is a house the physical address of the property, in event of furniture indicate where the furniture is, what kind of furniture it is and how much there are, like one table or 10 chairs. If its a vehicle, what model, colour, year and make it is. After all assets are listed, the signatory will then give a list of the people who the person which to make the beneficiaries of the assets. But a will is not just for assets, a person can also have a will to regulate your funeral arrangements. Where you want to be buried and if you want a small funeral, big funeral. Food or no food. Whether you want to be cremated and where you would like your ashes scattered,” Moloto said.
He also explained that once the will had been signed the testator received a copy of the will and the original stayed in the possession of the attorney.
“It is important to tell your family about the will, so that when you die the family knows who to contact in regards with your assets. No one can change the will after the testator has passed. In event circumstances change the testator can make changes to the will. The person can make adjustments and the previous will be amended,” Moloto said.
