It is heartbreaking when a loved one dies. The idea of having to deal with their belongings after their death (“deceased estate”) can be scary for the family. A deceased estate must be reported to the Master of the High Court (“Master”) or a Magistrates’ Office service point to appoint a person that will deal with the administration of the deceased estate. The administration of a deceased estate does not have to be scary and this article will shed some light on the procedures that must be followed.

Trusts are very useful estate planning tools and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. It basically means that a person (founder) puts his/her trust in someone else (trustee) to manage assets on behalf of someone (beneficiary).

Parents are often concerned about what would happen to their children should they die before the children reach adulthood, or even after adulthood in some instances. They want to ensure that their assets, including their family home and investments, are protected and used responsibly to maintain and support the educational and general needs of their minor children until they reach a certain age.