Planning is a skill that enables clarity, structure, and guidance. However, no matter how balanced, and orderly your life may be, nothing will ever prepare you for your unknown and untimely death. Instead, what you can do is ease the lives of those closest and dearest to you, by creating a last will and testament. A last will and testament is defined as a legal document that lets you decide what happens with your estate after you die. It is a document of utmost importance and yet, a recent study has shown that only around 44% of economically
active South Africans have wills. If you are among them, you should know that there are many reasons to have a will. When you die without a will, you leave important decisions up to a local court and your country’s laws. You won’t have a say in who receives your property and other important assets. Here are ten reasons why you should make a will today:

  1. Creating a last will and testament will save time, money, and stress for your loved ones.
  2. The legal system is never an easy and efficient process, however, a last will and testament will
    aid in streamlining the lengthy court processes.
  3. When you write a will, you become a “testator” and have the opportunity to nominate an “executor.” This is the person who will oversee wrapping up all your affairs. Through creating a last will and testament, you alone, get to decide who will manage your assets.
  4. Most people know that a will lets them decide who will and won’t get their property. As the
    testator, you can name people as beneficiaries for specific assets as well as control who cannot
    benefit from your estate.
  5. If you’re a parent, you can use your will to nominate a guardian for your minor children to
    ensure they receive the best possible care and love.
  6. If you have a pet, a last will and testament will allow you to choose a beneficiary to look after
    them.
  7. Many people want to leave a positive impact on the world after they pass. A great way to do this is
    to support the charities or causes you love most. When you write a will, you can preserve your
    legacy by leaving a part of your estate to a charitable organization.
  8. You may not want to think about your own funeral. However, if you do think about it now, and leave instructions with your will, you can lessen the burden on your loved ones after you pass.
  9. When you create your will, you can look after your loved ones and give them an easy map to follow after your passing. This gives many people peace of mind, making it one of the most important reasons to have a will.
  10. Without this legally valid document, your estate won’t necessarily be bequeathed to any of your intended wishes.

At ZI Attorneys Inc. we are enraptured to offer you this service. We are committed to catering to all your last will and testament needs and pledge to accommodate you to the very best of our ability.

Contact ZI Attorneys Inc. for assistance, via email at info@attorneys-at-law.org.za or telephonically at (010) 025 6000

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article are solely thereof the writer. All the rights of ZI Attorneys Inc. remain reserved.