Wills & Estate Planning · Gauteng
A will is the single most important document you will ever sign, and we draft yours free of charge. We also plan estates and administer deceased estates so that the people you love are looked after, and your wishes are followed.
What we do
From drafting your first will to winding up a loved one's estate, we guide you through each step with care and precision.
A clear, valid will that meets the requirements of the Wills Act and reflects exactly how you want your estate distributed.
Structuring your assets, trusts and beneficiaries to provide for your family and reduce delays, disputes and unnecessary costs.
We act as, or assist, the executor: reporting the estate to the Master, settling debts and distributing assets to heirs.
Setting up and administering inter vivos and testamentary trusts to protect vulnerable beneficiaries and preserve wealth across generations.
Professional executor and trustee appointments, giving your family an experienced hand at a difficult time.
Life changes: marriage, divorce, a new child, a property purchase. We review and update your will so it stays current and valid.
Why it matters
If you pass away without a valid will, you die "intestate". Your estate is then divided according to the Intestate Succession Act, not according to your wishes. That often means:
There is no such thing as common law marriage in South Africa. While the law now allows a surviving life partner to claim in certain cases, that must be proved and can be disputed.
A properly drafted will puts the decisions back in your hands.
Start your free willHow it works
No legal jargon, no confusion. Four straightforward steps from first contact to a signed, safely stored will.
Send an enquiry. We explain the process and confirm that all will drafting is free.
We discuss your family, assets and intentions, in person or online, and identify anything that needs special care.
We prepare your will or estate plan and walk you through it clearly before you sign.
You sign before witnesses and we store your will safely, with a copy for your records.
Who you are working with
Your estate is handled by qualified attorneys, not a faceless online form. Legal services are provided through Cilliers & Gildenhuys Inc, a firm of attorneys, notaries and conveyancers practising in Gauteng.
We combine the warmth of a family adviser with the rigour of a commercial law firm, so you get advice you can understand and work you can trust.
Free guides
Plain-English answers to the questions we hear most often, written for South Africans and kept up to date with the current law.
How the Intestate Succession Act decides who inherits when there is no will, and why that rarely matches your wishes.
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There is no common law marriage in South Africa, but the law changed in 2024. What cohabiting couples need to know.
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The requirements under the Wills Act, and the simple signing mistakes that can invalidate an entire will.
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The steps in deceased estate administration, realistic timelines, and what causes the delays.
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The R3.5 million abatement, the 20% and 25% rates, and how to plan for the tax on your estate.
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The 3.5% statutory fee, the 6% on income, and how to choose the right executor in your will.
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Living and testamentary trusts, what they are used for, and an honest look at whether one suits you.
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In community vs out of community, the accrual system, and why the contract must be signed before the wedding.
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Questions
We draft all wills free of charge, however complex, with no obligation. Other services such as trusts, broader estate planning and estate administration are charged, and always quoted upfront so you know any cost before work begins.
Your estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987, not your wishes. The Master appoints an executor, and the process is often slower and more costly for your family. A valid will avoids this.
It varies with the size and complexity of the estate and the Master's office workload, but most estates take well over a year, and larger ones considerably longer. Proper administration helps avoid further delays.
Not necessarily. We can do much of the work by telephone, email and video consultation. A will does, however, need to be signed in the presence of two competent witnesses, and we will guide you through that.
Yes. We review your current will and prepare an updated will or a codicil where appropriate, so it reflects your current circumstances and remains valid.
Yes. We can be nominated as executor or work alongside a family member you appoint, handling the reporting, administration and distribution of the estate.
Get in touch
Send us your query using the form and our team will reach out to you. There is no obligation, and all will drafting is free of charge.
Ready to begin? Complete our free will questionnaire →