Annetjie Coetsee is a practising Attorney, Notary Public and Conveyancer, operating from both the Cape Town and Helderberg branches of STBB. Her responsibilities include: Director of STBB, branch head of Somerset West office, Executive member and head of the Development Law Unit. The specialized Development Law Unit has nine specialists addressing development requirements in the fields of planning law, environmental law, construction law, renewable energy law and, very importantly, local government law. She is a practicing Conveyancer (dealing with a conglomerate of property related matters such as sectional titles, developments, bonds, transfers and municipal work for local councils). Although she specialises in conveyancing she is a family law attorney, with a special interest in the constitutional law aspects regarding children’s rights. She is part of the marketing department and takes care of the brand development on a national level. Annetjie is further responsible for compliance and reporting initiatives. She is involved with substantial research activities relating to the property market and property investment and communicates interesting and relevant facts to her clients and the media, conducts Legal Updates for banks and estate agents. Her knowledge and insurmountable experience in the property market and connections with key roleplayers in the property industry makes her an invaluable ally to any property investor.

From the desk of Annetjie | The Accrual System and a Spouse’s Death

One is often reminded of the importance of ensuring you have an updated will. Consider, for example, that X marries Y who has children from a previous marriage. They register an antenuptial contract so that their marriage is out of community of property with the accrual system.

If X dies without leaving a will, or leaves his/her entire estate to his/her children from his/her previous marriage, this can have devastating effects for Y, especially if his/her estate has the bigger growth. This is because of the consequence that the children of X (who are not children of Y) will become entitled to 50% of the growth in the estate of Y, as at the time of X’s passing away. This will cut the size of the inheritance of Y’s eventual heirs.

It is therefore necessary to obtain professional assistance for the drafting of your antenuptial or will. Contact me for advice at annetjiec@stbb.co.za

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