You can typically get a will drafted for free by a lawyer if you are willing to appoint the lawyer, or a related company, as executor of the will. If you want to appoint your own executor (not the lawyer doing the drafting), you should be able to get a will with no significant complications drafted for under R1000 (at the time of writing).
Family, Estate & notarial legal services
Administering a deceased estate can be a complex process and therefore it is best to ensure that a lawyer experienced in estates is nominated as executor in terms of your Will. If an inexperienced person is appointed as executor, make sure that they're good at project management, and are aware of specialists to appoint to assist them (e.g. with the conveyancing surrounding the transfer of any property there may be). In addition to appointing an executor to your last will and testament, you need to detail who you bequeath your estate to, and stipulate whether it is seperate from the marital power which might apply to any marriage of each beneficiary. If you have minor children, decide who you will appoint as a guardian to take care of them. You will need two people to witness your signature to the will, by fully signing each page of the will. You should also take down their full names, ID numbers, phone numbers and addresses. Make sure your will is stored safely, and that somebody you trust knows where it is.
Whilst it's easy to get a lawyer to draft a will for you for free, you wont find lawyers or notaries willing to do related specialist activities for free; like:
Registering a trust (click here to see a list of the top trust lawyers in Cape Town.
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