Estate Planning: The Ambush Tax Lurking in the Wings
“I can’t afford to die; I’d lose too much money.” (George Burns, comedian) At the heart of any estate plan lies your will. Pair it with a file containing all the information and documents that your executor and heirs will need to wind up your estate, and you’ve laid a solid foundation for protecting your […]
Beyond Your Will: Leaving a Legacy
“Legacy is not leaving something for people. It’s leaving something in people.” (Peter Strople, former Dell Computer Corporation director) Leave a personal legacy, not just a financial one We all know how important it is to our loved ones that we leave behind a valid will rooted in a comprehensive estate plan, but our legacy […]
Excuses, Excuses: Why People Don’t Make Wills, And Why You Must
We all must die, no exceptions. So, it’s amazing that so few of us actually protect our loved ones with wills. Perhaps the problem is that the siren call of procrastination sounds so clearly and seductively when it comes to delaying that evil day when we have to actually sit down, consider our mortality, and […]
In the Land of the Will, Clarity is King
“The golden rule for the interpretation of testaments is to ascertain the wishes of the testator from the language used. And when these wishes are ascertained, the court is bound to give effect to them, unless we are prevented by some rule or law from doing so.” (Quoted in the judgment below) When drawing up […]
Plan your estate to protect your family – Two end-of-year questions to ask yourself
As the end of another year approaches, with its family celebrations and holidays, take the time to check that your estate plan really does ensure that your loved ones will be looked after when you are no longer here for them. Here are two questions to ask yourself right now – “Is it time to […]
Can a video call be a valid will?
It may well be that in the future, we will be able to make a perfectly valid will (“Last Will and Testament”) by way of a video recording or other electronic means, but that day has not yet arrived. For now, it is essential that your will be properly drawn, not only to clearly reflect […]
How to protect your children’s inheritances from ending up in the guardian’s fund
It’s always tempting to procrastinate about decisions that force us to address the inevitability of our own mortality. But we have no choice when it comes to protecting our loved ones after we are gone, because to protect them a will (“Last Will and Testament”) is not a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity. And it’s urgent. […]
Don’t just leave your loved ones assets – leave them a legacy!
“A Legacy Letter is a way for you to share your values, life lessons, cherished memories, hopes for your family’s future, and anything else that is really important to you.” Estate planning is key to ensuring that your loved ones are properly catered for after you are gone. Ideally go beyond the practical and financial […]
Don’t Let Delays in the Master’s Office Leave Your Family in Financial Distress
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago” (Warren Buffett) Whilst the first and most important step in your estate planning is always to have in place a professionally drawn and regularly updated will (“Last Will and Testament”), there is another aspect which demands your urgent attention, particularly […]