How to make sure your original signed will is always available to your beneficiaries after your death

Even though a Will is such an important legal document, there are many cases of Wills that got lost or damaged. In addition, there are also cases where due to a sudden death, or where a couple dies simultaneously, beneficiaries don’t know the Will exists.

Without an original Will, the state assumes that a Will never existed and the Intestate Succession Act applies, which uses a formula to determine who inherits your estate. Even a certified copy is not enough as you would then need to petition the High Court which is lengthy and expensive process.

So how do you ensure:

• Your Will is always up-to-date and securely stored?
• You cater for unforeseen circumstances that might lead to beneficiaries not knowing about your Will?

1Life provides two affordable solutions to solve these challenges:

Safe Storage

If you complete your Will within 7 days, we will collect your Will from anywhere in the country and securely transport it to our offices at no extra cost. We will then check your Will for any errors and scan and barcode it, before storing it in a secured, fireproof facility.

You can also update your Will annually, where we will again cover the courier fee.

Monthly Check

We do a monthly check against the Department of Home Affairs' death records. Should we find a match, we will proactively contact family members or beneficiaries and let them know we have the Will safely and securely stored. Again this service is included free of charge, provided you complete your Will within 7 days.

If you would like more information read here or contact your financial adviser.