Should I write or change my Will myself? 

No. You should always use an Attorney, Bank Manager or Trust Company. Otherwise you could be creating problems later for your family and friends.

How do I go about making a Will? 

First, find an Attorney or go to your Bank Manager or the Bank's Trust department. If you don't already have one, ask your friends for recommendations, and phone to compare prices. (costs of drawing up a Will). Alternatively, contact us by telephone, email or by using the "Special Information Request form" (Special Infomation Request.pdf) and we will send you a list of Attorneys. (We cannot recommend individual Attorneys, but the list will include legal practices in your area). Second, work out the approximate value of your Estate. The Check list, below, will help you do this. Third, decide who the beneficiaries might be, e.g. children, other family members, friends, Animal Ant-Cruelty League, any other charities and divide your Estate into percentages.

What does it cost? 

Wills are not costly. Your Attorneys, Bank Manager or your Banks Trust Department will give you an idea of the costs involved for a simple Will, or for 'mirror wills' - basically a joint Will for a couple. What if I only want to make minor changes? You should still consult an Attorney, a Bank Manager or a Trust Company, but you may just need a simple amendment called a codicil, which doesn't cost as much as a complete Will. 

Who has to pay Estate Duty? 

If your Estate is worth more than R 1,000,000.00 (one million Rand), your Estate has to pay estate duty at a rate, as set by the Receiver of Revenue. ( 2% but it may have changed since this document was originally written). (This is calculated on the Net Value of your Estate as follows: Total Assets; Less Total Liabilities; Less bequests to charitable organizations = Net Value of your Estate. From the Net Value deduct R 1,000,000.00 and the result is the dutiable amount of your Estate. Use the check list, below, to calculate the Net Value of your Estate.) Properly drawn up Wills can reduce Estate Duty. Leaving gifts to charities can reduce the value of your dutiable Estate. 

How a gift to the Animal Anti-Cruelty League can help you

Leaving a gift in your Will to the Animal Anti-Cruelty League is an extremely tax-efficient way to give to charity. That's because your gift can also have the effect of lowering the Estate Duty payable on your Estate. Essentially that means you can help the Animal Anti-Cruelty League, and reduce the amount of tax your family has to pay at the same time. If you think your Estate may be liable for Estate Duty, talk to your Attorney, Bank Manager or tax advisor about ways of reducing this. Bequests to the Animal Anti-Cruelty League can help you reduce your Estate Duty liability, as the Animal Anti-Cruelty League is exempt for tax purposes. A legacy to the Animal Anti-Cruelty League lets you go on caring for animals long after your death, and helps us to plan long-term projects. It's simple and inexpensive to write or update a Will... it helps ensure the kind of future youd like to see ...and of course it costs you nothing during your lifetime.

Use this list to estimate the Net Value of your Estate