For newlyweds, one of the most important tasks to attend to is estate planning. The estate planning will depend on what the couple wants and what form of marriage they are in. It is therefore important to keep the following in mind when planning the years ahead together. Marriage in community of property There is […]
Category: Estates
The Basics of Estate Duty
When a person dies, they leave behind an estate which includes everything they own. Estate Duty is payable on the estate of every person who dies and whose nett estate is in excess of R3,5 million. It is charged at the rate of 20%. Currently, SARS is responsible for collecting the Estate Duty of a deceased person. […]
Should I plan my estate as a young adult?
It is very important for you to plan your estate, which could include a living will, a last will and a living trust. This can help families prepare for difficult times when you are no longer around to assist or advise them. Our lives get busier and more complicated by the day, so estate planning […]
Managing disputes over a deceased relative’s estate
If someone leaves a sizeable estate behind, it may cause conflict among the possible heirs. The help of an attorney, when settling an estate after a death, can avoid unnecessary troubles. The Administration of Estates Act, 1965, determines what must happen with an estate after a person’s death. There are certain steps that should be […]
Extending a sectional title unit: What you should know
When you intend to make structural alterations to your unit there is a procedure prescribed by the Act that should be complied with before you start with the alterations. Any alterations that extend the boundaries or floor area of the unit will be seen as an extension. Residents in a sectional title scheme are subject […]
What is the cost of my estate duty?
In terms of the stipulations of Article 4 of the Act on Estate Duty No 45 of 1955 certain deductions (known as rebates) from the net value of an estate are allowed in order to determine the final value of the estate which will be subject to estate duty. The following two rebates are […]
Implications of estate duty
Estate duty is charged on the dutiable value of the estate in terms of the Estate Duty Act. The general rule is that if the taxpayer is ordinarily resident in South Africa at the time of death, all of his/her assets (including deemed property), wherever they are situated, will be included in the gross value […]