What our estate planning review covers
Our estate planning service starts with a full review of the assets you hold in your own name, jointly, through a trust, or inside a business. We look at property, bank accounts, investments, loans, business interests, loan accounts, life cover linked to debt, and any family assets that may not be documented properly. The aim is to reduce confusion later and make the handover easier for the people who have to deal with it.
We also check whether your current ownership structure still fits your life now. A family home in Stellenbosch, a holiday property in the Western Cape, shares in a close corporation, or a trading business in Johannesburg may all need different treatment. If something is held in the wrong name, or the beneficiary instructions do not match the will, we flag it early.
- Asset mapping across personal, trust and business holdings
- Ownership review for property, cash, investments and business interests
- Handover notes for executors, trustees and family decision-makers
- Alignment check between wills, nominations and ownership records
Why ownership structure matters before the will is written
A will is important, but it does not fix poor ownership structure on its own. If there is no liquidity, the estate may be forced to sell assets at the wrong time. If a family business has not been structured properly, a surviving spouse or child may inherit value without the power, income or support needed to manage it. That is where proper estate planning makes a real difference.
We look at how assets move, who can act, and what paperwork is needed to avoid delays at administration stage. For entrepreneurs, this often includes shareholding, buy-sell arrangements, loan accounts and succession in the event of illness or death. For families, it often means making sure minor children, dependants and vulnerable beneficiaries are protected with clear instructions.
- Test for liquidity and estate costs
- Review of beneficiary nominations on relevant policies and accounts
- Assessment of executor and trustee practicality
- Handover planning for dependants, children and co-owners
How the estate planning process works
We keep the process practical. It usually begins with an introductory conversation, followed by document collection and a structured fact-find. From there we prepare a review of your estate position, set out the pressure points, and recommend what should change first. Some matters are simple and can be resolved quickly. Others need a careful sequence, especially where trusts, company interests or blended families are involved.
After that, we meet again to discuss the plan in plain language. If your matter needs coordination with your attorney, accountant or fiduciary professional, we work in step with them so the final structure makes sense from both a legal and financial point of view. Clients in Cape Town, Paarl, Durban and Johannesburg often prefer video consultations, and that works well for families spread across provinces.
- Step 1: Discovery and document request
- Step 2: Asset mapping and risk review
- Step 3: Recommendations and family discussion points
- Step 4: Implementation with aligned documents and records
- Step 5: Ongoing review and updates
Turnaround times and what to expect
Turnaround depends on how many moving parts are involved. A straightforward review for one person or a couple with clear records can often be completed within 7 to 10 working days after we have all the documents. A more complex family structure, especially one involving trusts, multiple properties, or business succession, may take 2 to 4 weeks, sometimes a little longer if third party documents are still outstanding.
We will tell you upfront what we need, and where the delays usually happen. The biggest hold-ups are incomplete asset lists, old beneficiary forms, missing title records, and unclear trust or company documentation. The sooner those are gathered, the quicker the review can move. We do not rush this work because a missed detail can create problems later that are expensive and time consuming.
- Simple review: 7 to 10 working days
- Moderate complexity: 2 to 3 weeks
- Complex family or business structures: 3 to 4 weeks or more
- Feedback meetings can be done in person or online
Fees and pricing approach
Our pricing is based on the scope of work, not on pressure to add products. A simple estate planning review is priced differently from a full family structure assessment with trust and business considerations. Where the matter includes multiple parties, repeated meetings or detailed coordination, we quote according to the time and technical work required. Clients know the scope before we begin.
We prefer clear fee conversations from the start. If there are items that need outside professionals, such as legal drafting or document certification, we will explain those separately so you can plan properly. For many families, it is more useful to do one careful review now than to face a rushed estate later with avoidable costs and stress.
- Fees depend on complexity, number of assets and structure type
- Quotes are issued after the initial fact-find
- Separate costs may apply for external drafting or certifications
- No product pressure, just practical advice
Keeping the plan current over time
Estate planning is not a once-off task. Births, deaths, marriages, divorces, property purchases, business changes and migration can all affect how your plan should work. We suggest a full review every 12 to 24 months, and sooner after any major life or business event. That keeps the paper trail current and reduces the chance of an outdated instruction causing confusion later.
For many clients, a yearly check-in is enough if the structure is stable. For business owners and blended families, we often recommend a review after any change in shareholding, trustees, dependants, or liquidity position. Coastal humidity, load-shedding and simple file loss can also affect records, so keeping copies in more than one secure place is sensible, not overcautious.
- Annual review for most plans
- Earlier review after major family or business changes
- Update records when ownership, dependants or trustees change
- Keep signed copies and a clean document schedule
Key facts
| Service area | Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Durban, Somerset West, Claremont and nationwide online |
|---|---|
| Typical turnaround | 7 to 10 working days for simple matters, 2 to 4 weeks for more complex structures |
| Pricing basis | Quoted by scope, complexity and number of entities or assets involved |
| Best suited for | Families, entrepreneurs, business owners and multi-generational households |
| Review interval | Every 12 to 24 months, or after a major life or business event |
| Documents often needed | Current will, asset list, trust deed if applicable, property records, policy and account statements, company or close corporation details |
