Questions such as why wills in SA still have to be hard-copy documents and why can’t I simply take a selfie-video or make a voice recording in which I set out who inherits my assets after my death are becoming more common.
Electronic devices, such as desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and smartwatches have changed the way we interact with and store our information. Hard-copy documents are rapidly going out of fashion and the Covid-19 lockdown has accelerated this trend.
However, the Wills Act in SA requires that a will be signed by the testator (the person whose will it is) and this implies a document that can be signed. The testator must sign in the presence of two witnesses or acknowledge their signature to the witnesses, who must also sign the document while in the presence of the testator and each other.
Written by James Faber and Louis van Vuren – read the full article here.
Published on Business Live 8 July 2020.