Deceased Estates – Kevin Barnard Attorneys

Cross-Border Estate Planning 101 – Why Global Families Need Special Planning

kbattorn — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 10:10:13 +0000

Cross-Border Estate Planning 101 – Why Global Families Need Special Planning Global Families & Complex Estates:

In an increasingly globalised world, many clients and their families have assets and beneficiaries spread across multiple countries. Traditional estate plans tailored to one jurisdiction often falter when cross-border elements are involved. As legal professionals, we recognize that what works for a purely local estate may not suffice for an internationally diversified estate.

Unique Challenges for International Estates:

Cross-border estate planning introduces complexities around differing legal systems, tax regimes, inheritance laws, and administrative procedures. An estate plan that

Protection for Vulnerable Spouses Under South Africa’s New Marriage Bill: What Financial Advisers Need to Know

kbattorn — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:09:04 +0000

Overview

The Marriage Bill [B43–2023] is poised to transform South Africa’s legal framework for marriage, divorce, and estate planning. A key focus of the Bill is enhancing legal protections for vulnerable spouses, particularly in contexts where power, income, and education disparities exist between partners.

As a financial adviser, understanding these reforms is essential to support your clients’ wealth protection, estate planning, and divorce preparedness. At Kevin Barnard Attorneys, we partner with advisers to provide integrated legal guidance—especially where clients face uncertainty around antenuptial contracts (ANCs) or unregistered partnerships.

Who Are Considered Vulnerable Spouses?

Under

You’ve been named an Executor in a Will – The Ultimate Guide for Executors: Responsibilities, Challenges, and Step-by-Step Navigation of Deceased Estates and Wills

kbattorn — Wed, 21 May 2025 10:24:33 +0000

Navigating the complexities of deceased estates and wills can be daunting, particularly during a time of loss. Understanding the role of the executor is essential for anyone tasked with this responsibility. Executors serve as the critical link between the deceased's wishes and the legal processes involved in settling an estate. Whether you’ve been appointed as an executor or are looking to understand what an executor's role entails, this guide will illuminate the responsibilities and challenges you may face. From managing assets and settling debts to ensuring a fair distribution of

Winding up a loved one’s estate – What you need to know

kbattorn — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 10:38:28 +0000

Winding up a loved one's estate can be a time-consuming and lengthy task. However, a streamlined and standardized winding-up procedure exists for all estates, providing clarity on what to expect. Here is a general outline of the procedure.

THE WILL

When a loved one passes away, one of the first steps is to locate their will. This legal document outlines their wishes regarding the distribution of assets and the appointment of an executor. Finding the will is crucial, as it provides vital information for the estate settlement process.

Once you have located the