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by Lorraine C.
How does one draw up a simple WILL?
How does one draw up a simple WILL. And what are the requirements to make it valid. I am trying to help a friend. He wants to write a will, but don’t know how.
Category: Estates, Writing a will
Region: South Africa, Nothern Province
1 Answer
A WILL is simply a document which states what one wants to be done with his/her estate while he/she is gone. The requirements in South Africa for a WILL to be valid are quite straight forward:
- Since 1 January 1954 all wills must be in writing. It can be written by hand, typed or printed.
- The testator/testatrix must sign THE WILL
- The signature of the testator/testatrix must be made in the presence of two or more competent witnesses.4. The witnesses must attest and sign THE WILL in the presence of the testator/testatrix and of each other.5. If THE WILL consists of more than one page, each page other than the page on which it ends must be signed by the testator/testatrix anywhere on the page. Although the testator / testatrix must sign all the pages of THE WILL the witnesses will only need to sign the last page.