Frozen bank accounts and deceased estates
During the administration of a deceased estate, the bank accounts of the deceased are frozen to establish the solvency of the deceased’s estate. This is a lengthy process even if a valid will is left behind, but can become unbearably long (more than two years in some cases) when intestate succession comes into play. The […]
Are you ready to enter the letting world?
Letting real estate seems like a sure-fire way to make an income as a real estate owner, but the possibilities come with certain considerations. The simple fact is that not every property (or every owner) is cut out for the letting world, at least not at present. Timing Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle to property letting […]
Pushing the Limits of Antenuptial Contracts
Antenuptial contracts (ANCs) – those lovely documents that mark the peak of romantic frivolity just before marriage. Well, maybe not for most. But ANCs are a vital part of what keeps the romance safe during what is technically a business transaction (another idea that can easily deflate the romantic air surrounding that special day). ANCs […]
Responsibility for payments in the age of cybercrime
Phishing scams have become a part of our everyday digital lives, but even though the risks have become ever-present, awareness hasn’t increased in equal measure. The worst part is that even when you were the victim of a phishing scam, the onus of payment still falls squarely into your lap. Phishing is the blanket term […]
A closer look at verbal agreements
Believe it or not, verbal agreements are still valid, enforceable, and legally binding contracts that can be relied on to govern legal relationships. Though there may be a few exceptions and key aspects that must be covered for the agreement to be legal, the biggest hindrance in verbal agreements may simply be human memory. Your […]
Understanding conveyancing fees and what you’re paying for
Buying your first home is one of the benchmarks in every person’s life. Whether it’s a small apartment to rest in after a day’s work, a home to raise a family in, or a studio apartment that allows you to tap into your creativity, your first home is a landmark from which the rest of […]
Are your heirs disqualifying themselves?
We all know that the will forms a vital part of the estate planning foundation. It is unfortunate then that the foundation of a deceased estate is so often left crumbling due to simple oversights in the drafting of the will. Just as with any piece of legal writing, the wording of your will matters. […]
Repo rate and the real estate impact
Buying a home in an economy that is constantly shifting requires careful consideration and research. The greatest question to ask may very well be, “Will I be able to afford this investment no matter what happens next?” Unfortunately, this question may not have enjoyed the prevalence it deserved over the past few months. As the […]
To be(queath) or not to be(queath)
Some believe Shakespeare to have been a madman. Whether that is true or not, we cannot say, but we believe that he had no contemporary who wrote quite as much (or as well) about death and its implications. As certain as the fates of his protagonists and antagonists were, we don’t think leaving things up […]
The Actio de Pauperie: Liability in domestic animal attacks
Domestic animals are a source of joy to their owners across the world. But every so often, that joy is not shared with a person who suffers an injury caused by such an animal. In these cases, it is easy for the victim to lay full responsibility for the injury on the owner’s shoulders. But […]