There’s a reason ‘the reading of the will’ is such a well-loved movie plot point: a will, or the lack of one, can cause endless drama. Which is great in a cinema setting, but less so when it’s your family that’s left in the lurch.
WHY YOU NEED A WILL
You’re accumulating possessions all the time, and a will allows you to say what should happen to them after your death. Dying without a will means you die intestate and your assets will be distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act. This is done according to a rigid pecking order, starting with your surviving spouse, children, parents or siblings. If there’s no spouse or children, your assets are given to your parents, aunts and uncles, siblings or the nearest relative. This may not be what you want – a will avoids all these possible complications.
‘An heir
