Executor, Deceased Estates, Last Will and Testaments
Our Executor, Deceased Estates, Last Will and Testament department is headed by Annelie Kriek and specialises in drafting of Last Wills and Testaments as part of financial planning, estate structuring, asset protection and wealth preservation.
Additional to the aforementioned, OAK Law’s professionals are available to be appointment as Executor of Estates and/or can assist the appointed Executor with the processes relating to same.
Our professional team’s expertise enables OAK Law to advise and guide our clients on all aspects relating to testamentary trusts, wills, executorship as well as Master office attendances.
In general our service offering includes:
- Legal advice pertaining to a Last Will and Testament
- Drafting of a Last Will and Testament
- Amendments to existing Last Will and Testaments
- Safekeeping and registration of a Last Will and Testament on OAK Law’s database
- Appointment as Executor
- Assistance to appointed Executor/s
- Attendances to the Master of the High Court and, if relevant, the South African Revenue Service
- Additional and/or alternative assistance with finalisation of the estate of the deceased
Contact Us
OAK LAW supports the LPC’s Last Will and Testament awareness month during September.
Contact our offices to arrange a consult (MS Teams or in-person) to update and/or establish your Last Will and Testament.
Avoid intestate succession and be the author of your own final wishes! We look forward to hearing from you.
From Signed to Secure: What Happens to Your Will After You Sign It
Key Takeaways • Signing a valid Will is only half the job. The Master of the High Court needs the original document, not a copy, before your estate can be administered as you intended. • If the original can't be located, your family may have to apply to court just to...
Choosing Who Administers Your Estate: A Decision Worth Getting Right
Key Takeaways • An Executor is the person legally responsible for winding up your estate, and South African law lets you nominate anyone you choose in your Last Will and Testament. • If you don't nominate a suitable Executor, or the person you name can't or won't act,...
Wills Week Checklist: What Every Business Owner Should Have in Their Will
Key Takeaways • A standard, off-the-shelf will is usually built around personal assets. It rarely deals properly with company shares, and that gap can hold up an entire estate. • Your will and your shareholders agreement need to say the same thing. When they...
Safeguarding Shareholder Agreements: The Role of Professional Executors
Key Takeaways • The death of a director or major shareholder can paralyse a company if the shareholder agreement and estate plan are not aligned. • Shares do not disappear on death. They form part of the deceased estate and must be administered by an executor in terms...
Strategic Asset Management: Professional Executors for Complex Estates
Key Takeaways • Business owners with commercial property and investment portfolios face unique estate challenges, including estate duty, capital gains tax, and liquidity shortfalls. • Appointing a professional executor experienced in commercial asset management...
The Business Owner’s Essential Guide to Estate Planning
Reading time: 4 minutes Key Takeaways • Business owners require specialised estate planning beyond standard wills to address business continuity and succession challenges. • Proper estate planning protects business value, prevents operational disruption, and ensures...
Everything You Need to Know about a Last Will and Testament
Key Takeaways • A Last Will and Testament is essential for anyone with assets or minor children, not just the wealthy. • Your will must be in writing and signed by you and two competent witnesses to be legally valid. • Without a valid will, your estate will be...
Transforming Trust Planning Into a Business Strategy Tool
Reading time: 4 minutes Key Takeaways • Trusts function as strategic business tools beyond traditional estate planning, protecting operations and enabling growth. • Proper trust structures shield business assets from personal liability, creditor claims, and succession...
Building Generational Wealth: How Trusts Support Family Business Continuity
Reading Time: 5 minutes Key Takeaways • Trusts separate business assets from personal estates, protecting them from creditors and divorce claims. • Inter vivos trusts significantly reduce estate duty burden on family businesses. • Carefully structured beneficiary...
Building a Legacy: Succession Planning That Protects Your Business and Family
Reading Time: 6 minutes Key Takeaways • Business succession planning ensures operational continuity when key stakeholders pass away or retire. • Integrated will drafting and executor services protect both family interests and business value. • Share transfer...








