Estate planning pathways for South Africans.
Estate planning guidance for South Africans, organised by life stage and role.
- 1
After a bereavement
What to handle in the first hours, first week and first month after a death in the family - in plain South African terms and roughly the order it tends to be needed.
- 2
Widows & widowers
A practical framework for what to think about first, what to leave for later, and where to find help after losing a partner.
- 3
Parents of young children
Estate planning for small children is mostly about people: who would raise them, who would manage their inheritance, and how to avoid the state stepping in.
- 4
Adult children of ageing parents
A calm framework for moving the conversation about an ageing parent's affairs forward, without taking it over.
- 5
Elderly
The most important parts of estate planning can be done in a single weekend. This pathway shows where to start, without leaving everything to the family at the last minute.
- 6
Single adults / no immediate family
South Africa's default inheritance rules rarely match what unmarried, childless adults would actually choose. A small amount of planning makes a big difference.
- 7
Blended families
The default legal rules do not recognise stepchildren as heirs. Clearer documentation reduces the risk of disputes between first-marriage and second-marriage children.
- 8
Business owners
If you are a director or shareholder of a South African business, your estate plan has two jobs: providing for your family and keeping the business stable.
Not sure where to start? Browse the full resources hub or reach us through the contact page. This guidance is educational and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice.