Article by: Ariza Vermeulen - Attorney Based in The Willows, Pretoria
When you die without a will, the Intestate Succession Act and Administration of Deceased Estates Act determine the process which must be followed to wind up your estate.
Appointment of Executor
The first step would be to have an Executor appointed to attend to the administration. Seeing as there is no will, an executor must be nominated by all the heirs of the deceased. This could be a problem when the heirs are overseas and must appoint a person who is not a child, parent or spouse of the deceased. Section 23(1) of the Administration of Deceased Estates Act provides that every person who is not the spouse, child or parent of the deceased or has not been nominated by a will to be an executor, must find security to the satisfaction of the Master of the High Court in an amount determined by the Master for the proper performance of his functions.
Distribution of Estate Assets
Should you be married in community of property and you die without a will, only half of the estate assets are dealt with. This means that 50% of a fixed property, for instance, will be awarded to the heirs of the deceased in accordance with the Intestate Succession Act – please see below.
Many couples today are married in terms of the accrual regime. When you die, calculations must be done to determine whether the surviving spouse or the estate has a claim against the other to equalise the growth of the estates. This could mean that your estate might have a substantial claim against your spouse’s estate or vice versa. These claims can result in the sale of assets which might not have been your intentions. In many cases these claims are particularly enforced when it is the deceased’s second marriage and there are children from his first marriage.
In the case of minors, the Act states that minors may not inherit until they reach the age of 18 years. To protect their inheritance, the funds must be paid to the Guardian’s Fund. Most estates do not have the liquidity to pay these inheritances and this results in the sale of assets.
Summary of the Intestate Succession Act
Should you die without a will, your estate will be distributed as follow:
In conclusion, by drafting a will, many problems and family disputes can be avoided. The will nominates an Executor who will be capable to administer the estate or appoint someone who can assist him and the requirement for security will be waived. Heirs will be appointed and provisions can be made for minor children in the form of a testamentary trust. The estate will be distributed as per the deceased’s final wishes.
To contact Ariza Vermeulen email ariza@nelvs.co.za or tel:012 8071989