Many people believe that if they don't have a Will, all their possessions automatically go to their next of kin. 

Broadly, that's true. But who is your next of kin? It is just one person or several? What if your husband or wife, children and parents are still alive - will your Estate be divided equally? What if you're living with someone and not married to them?

Without a Will, you can't choose - there's a legal order to follow. If your belongings (including your savings, home, furniture, jewellery, insurance etc.) are worth more than R 1,000,000.00 (One Million) in total, they may be shared between various relatives. 

So the only way to make sure you control what happens to your possessions is with a properly worded Will, prepared by an Attorney, Bank Manager or a Trust Company according to your instructions. 

Otherwise, the people you love might find themselves struggling with all sorts of legal and financial complications, which can lead to a lengthy delay in any monies being paid and even short-term financial hardship for your family.