Estate & Legacy Planning: Protect What Matters

We understand that planning for the future isn't easy. It means thinking about difficult things. But here's what we know: when you take care of it now, you give your family peace of mind later. We'll help you create a plan that protects what you've built, takes care of the people you love, and ensures your values live on. Our legacy planning services across South Africa are designed to give you confidence that everything will be handled exactly as you want. We work with clients nationwide.

How We Help You Protect Your Legacy

A good estate plan isn't just about documents. It's about peace of mind. We'll work with you to create a plan that reflects your values and protects your family's future.

Drafting of Last Will & Testament

For a business owner, an off-the-shelf will is insufficient and dangerous. Your will is your final business continuity plan. We specialize in drafting wills for business owners across South Africa, ensuring it addresses the complex interplay between your personal estate and company shares, and aligns perfectly with your shareholder agreements to prevent legal disputes.

Customised will drafting tailored to high-net-worth estates.
Integration of business succession clauses and testamentary trusts.
Regular reviews to ensure your will remains current with legislation and life changes.

Intergenerational Wealth Transfer

Transferring wealth to the next generation requires careful planning to be effective and tax-efficient. We utilize a range of strategic tools, including trusts and planned donations, to ensure your assets are passed on smoothly, minimizing exposure to Estate Duty and Donations Tax.

Strategic use of family trusts for asset protection and seamless transfer.
Advice on minimizing Estate Duty in South Africa.
Planning for liquidity to cover estate costs without forcing the sale of assets.

Professional Executor & Administration Services

Appointing an independent, professional executor is one of the wisest decisions you can make to protect your family from administrative burdens and potential conflict. As your executor, we manage the entire process of winding up deceased estates across South Africa with impartiality, expertise, and efficiency.

Acting as independent, professional Executors of your estate.
Reporting the estate to the Master of the High Court.
Managing estate assets, settling liabilities, and distributing inheritances.
Ensuring all legal and tax compliance throughout the administration process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Estate Duty is a tax of 20% levied on the dutiable amount of a deceased estate up to R30 million, and 25% on the value above R30 million. The first R3.5 million of the estate's net value is exempt. Strategic planning can legally minimize this liability.

A professional executor brings impartiality and expertise to complex estates involving business assets. This prevents family conflicts of interest, ensures the business is managed or sold correctly, and navigates the intricate legal and tax requirements efficiently, which a family member may not be equipped to handle.

Dying "intestate" means your assets will be distributed according to a fixed legal formula (the Law of Intestate Succession), which may not align with your wishes. It can lead to significant delays, increased costs, and potential hardship for your loved ones.

Assets held within a properly structured trust do not form part of your personal estate upon death. This means they are not subject to executor's fees (typically 3.5% + VAT) or Estate Duty, resulting in significant cost savings and a much faster transfer of wealth to your beneficiaries.

Bring Your Wealth Strategy Together

Let's sit down and talk about your Anchor portfolio, your tax plan, and your estate strategy. We'll help you connect all the pieces in one conversation. Whether you're planning for retirement or building wealth, we're here to make sure everything works together. We serve clients across South Africa.