Author: Shelley Orgill
What is a will and why is it important?
The formalities of a valid will. A will refers to a legal document that outlines the distribution of your assets and the care of minor children in the event of your death. In the event that you die without a will or die without a valid will, the distribution of your assets will be governed by the laws of intestate succession. In this instance, your true wishes may not take fruition. Additionally, those you have left behind will be left with the task of spending time and possibly money, to resolve your affairs. It is important to bear in mind that a will must be executed in accordance with the Wills Act 7 of 1953 (“the Wills Act”) in order to be valid.
The Wills Act 7 of 1953
The Wills Act sets outs the requirements for a valid will and must be complied with for all wills signed on or after 1 January 1954. Failure to adhere to these formalities would render a will invalid.
Certain invalidities of a will may be condoned by way of a court order in terms of section 2(3) of the Wills Act. However, non-compliance with the formalities of a will calls for intervention by the High Court which must be convinced that the document in question was intended by the deceased to be his/her will. The costs and time associated with this type of application as well as the probability of success are factors that the deceased’s family should consider when they wish to approach the court.
What are the formalities for a valid will?
According to section 2 (1) of the Wills Act, the formalities of a valid will are:
- The testator must have capacity to make a will
- The will must be in writing
- The will must be signed at the end thereof by the testator. If the will consists of more than one page, then each page must be signed by the testator and two witnesses.
- The signature of the testator must be made in the presence of two or more competent witnesses, which witnesses must also sign the will at the same time as the testator.
There are other formalities for a valid will found in our case law and therefore, it is advisable to instruct an attorney who is acquainted with the legal requirements for a valid will, to assist you with this important task.
Who has capacity to make a will?
According to section 4 of the Wills Act, any person of or over the age of 16 years old may make a will, as long as such persons are capable of appreciating the nature and effect of their actions. For example, a person who suffers from Alzheimers does not have the legal or mental capacity to sign a will.
Where must the testator sign the Will and in what form may he/she sign?
The testator is required to sign at the end of the will, in the presence of two or more competent witnesses who are all present at the same time. Should a will consist of more than one page, the testator may sign anywhere on each page except the last page which must be signed at the end.
The testator may sign a will in the form of signing, an initial or by using a mark. It should be borne in mind that consistency in the signature used must prevail throughout the will.
Should the testator sign the will by using a mark, e.g., by making a cross, a Commissioner of Oaths must be present when the testator makes the mark. The Commissioner of Oaths must satisfy himself/herself as to the identity of the testator and that the will so signed is the will of the testator. The Commissioner of Oaths is required to sign each page of the will and attach his/ her certificate, in terms of section 2(1)(a)(v) of the Wills Act.
Who may be a witness?
According to section 2 (1)(a)(ii) of the Wills Act, a witness must be competent. A competent witness is any individual who is 14 years old or older. The witnesses are required to be present when the testator signs the will. The witnesses must sign each page and in Cape Town, the Master requires the witnesses to print their full names under their signatures.
Should you require any assistance with your estate planning, drafting of your will or the administration of deceased person’s estate, contact us at Velile Tinto Cape Incorporated, where our team of experts will assist.
Shelley Orgil: Uhakika ni nini na kwa nini ni muhimu? Taratibu za hati ya urithi inayotumika. Agano la kimwili ni hati ya kisheria ambayo inaelezea usambazaji wa mali yako na utunzaji wa watoto wadogo katika tukio la kifo chako. Ikiwa umekufa bila mapenzi au umekufa bila mapenzi halali, usambazaji wa mali zako utaongozwa na sheria za urithi wa hatia. Katika kisa hiki, huenda matakwa yako ya kweli yasitokee. Kwa kuongezea, wale ambao umewaacha watakuwa na kazi ya kutumia wakati na labda pesa, kutatua masuala yako. Ni muhimu kukumbuka kwamba hati ya mapenzi lazima iandikwe kulingana na Sheria ya hati ya mapenzi ya mwaka wa 1953 ili iwe halali. Sheria ya Uhakika ya Uhakika ya 1953 (Wills Act, 1953), inaelezea mahitaji ya hati ya uhakika ya uhakika na lazima ifuatwe kwa hati zote za uhakika zilizosainiwa tarehe 1 Januari 1954 au baadaye. Kushindwa kufuata taratibu hizo kungefanya hati ya urithi isiwe na nguvu. Uhalali wa hati ya mapenzi yaweza kuondolewa kwa amri ya mahakama kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 2 (3) cha Sheria ya hati ya mapenzi. Hata hivyo, kutofuata taratibu za mapenzi kunahitaji uingiliaji wa Mahakama Kuu ambayo lazima iamini kwamba hati inayohusika ilikusudiwa na marehemu kuwa mapenzi yake. Gharama na muda unaohusiana na aina hii ya maombi pamoja na uwezekano wa mafanikio ni mambo ambayo familia ya marehemu inapaswa kuzingatia wakati wanataka kukaribia mahakama. Ni mambo gani yanayohitajiwa ili hati ya urithi iwe halali? "Kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 2 (1) cha Sheria ya Uhakika, taratibu za hati ya mapenzi ni: ""Mwamuzi lazima awe na uwezo wa kufanya hati ya mapenzi; hati ya mapenzi lazima iwe kwa maandishi; hati ya mapenzi lazima iandikiwe na mwamuzi.""" Ikiwa hati ya urithi ina zaidi ya ukurasa mmoja, basi kila ukurasa lazima uandikiwe na mrithi na mashahidi wawili. - Saini ya mrithi lazima ifanywe katika uwepo wa mashahidi wawili au zaidi wenye uwezo, ambao mashahidi lazima pia saini hati ya urithi wakati huo huo na mrithi. Kuna taratibu nyingine kwa ajili ya mapenzi halali kupatikana katika kesi yetu sheria na kwa hiyo, ni vyema kuagiza mwanasheria ambaye anafahamu mahitaji ya kisheria kwa ajili ya mapenzi halali, kukusaidia na kazi hii muhimu. Ni nani aliye na uwezo wa kufanya agizo? "Katika kifungu cha 4 cha Sheria ya Uhakika, mtu yeyote mwenye umri wa miaka 16 au zaidi anaweza ""kufanya mapenzi"" ikiwa watu hao wana uwezo wa kutambua asili na athari za vitendo vyao." Kwa mfano, mtu mwenye ugonjwa wa Alzheimer's hana uwezo wa kisheria au wa kiakili wa kutia sahihi hati ya urithi. Ni wapi na kwa namna gani mrithi anapaswa kutia sahihi hati ya urithi? Mwaridhishaji lazima ashiriki katika hati ya urithi kwa kushuhudia mashahidi wawili au zaidi, ambao wote wanahudhuria wakati huo huo. Ikiwa hati ya urithi ina kurasa zaidi ya moja, mrithi anaweza kusaini mahali popote kwenye kila ukurasa isipokuwa ukurasa wa mwisho ambao lazima usajiliwe mwishoni. Mwarithi anaweza kusaini hati ya urithi kwa njia ya saini, herufi ya kwanza au kwa kutumia alama. Ni lazima ikumbukwe kwamba usawa katika saini kutumika lazima kutawala katika mapenzi yote. Ikiwa mrithi atasaini hati kwa kutumia alama, kwa mfano kwa kufanya msalaba, Kamishna wa kiapo lazima awepo wakati mrithi atakapofanya alama. Mjumbe wa kiapo lazima ajisadikishe mwenyewe kuhusu utambulisho wa mrithi na kwamba mapenzi yaliyotiwa saini hivyo ni mapenzi ya mrithi. Mwakilishi wa kiapo lazima ashiriki katika maandishi ya hati ya mapenzi na kuunganisha hati yake ya hati ya mapenzi, kulingana na kifungu cha 2 (1) (a) (v) cha Sheria ya mapenzi. Ni nani awezaye kuwa shahidi? Kwa mujibu wa kifungu cha 2 (1) (a) (ii) cha Sheria ya Uhakika, shahidi lazima awe na uwezo. Shahidi mwenye uwezo ni mtu yeyote mwenye umri wa miaka 14 au zaidi. Mashahidi wanatakiwa kuwapo wakati mrithi anapoitia sahihi hati ya urithi. Kwa mujibu wa sheria za mji wa Cape Town, mashahidi wanapaswa kuandika majina yao yote chini ya saini zao. Ikiwa unahitaji msaada wowote na mipango ya mali yako, uandishi wa mapenzi yako au usimamizi wa mali ya mtu aliyekufa, wasiliana nasi katika Veloce Tinto Cape Incorporated, ambapo timu yetu ya wataalam itakusaidia.