Answers to your questions
Have a question you would like answered? Email us and we may answer it. The questions here are based on ones from our readers, with identifying information removed.
Please note: GroundUp is just a news agency. We are not lawyers or financial advisors, and we have nothing to do with SASSA, Home Affairs, or any other government bodies. We do our best to make the answers accurate using publicly available information, but we cannot accept any legal liability if there are errors. If you notice any discrepancies, please email [email protected].
Topic: Inheritance | Show questions and answers for all topics
Are life policies excluded from a deceased's estate?
Life policies are paid to the nominated beneficiary. If no beneficiary is nominated, the proceeds form part of the deceased's estate, attracting estate duty and executor's fees.
What are my rights to my spouse's estate if he dies, and can my adult children legally challenge my decisions?
Only the appointed executor has the legal authority to manage and distribute the deceased's assets and settle debts.
How can my siblings and I get a copy of our deceased parents' will and do we have a right to their estate?
You can get a copy of your parents' will from the Master of the High Court. You are not guaranteed a share of their estate.
How can I evict an illegal occupant from my late father's house?
First find out if the house is still in your late father's name. You will need to get a court order to evict the illegal occupant.
How can I check if my deceased son's estate was overcharged by the executor, and whether the payout was lawful?
If the executor overcharged you, it would ideally be flagged by the Master's Office.
My mother was misled into signing away her inheritance by her stepmother. Can she contest this?
She needs to make an affidavit on how she came to sign the document and take it to the Master's Office to lodge a complaint.
How can I evict tenants in my late mother's RDP house who refuse to leave?
Since you have a letter of authority, you can get a court order from the magistrate to start the eviction process.
My late father registered our family home in my stepmother's name. What rights to the house do me and my siblings have?
If the title deed is in your stepmother's name, the house belongs to her.
My sibling wants to be the executor of our late father's estate. Can we refuse to sign if we have concerns?
Your family should meet and appoint someone that everyone trusts as the mediator to resolve the matter.
How can my siblings and I handle disagreements about the house we inherited from our parents?
Use a mediator or a Master of the High Court to help resolve the disagreements.