Bodies Corporate: Forcing Access to Units, and Round Robin Resolutions
Owning your own property comes with a raft of benefits, including a general right to privacy and control over who can access your property and who can’t.
Buying and Selling Property: Who Pays What Costs?
Don’t risk not knowing what you’re doing when you either sell or buy property. Avoid nasty shocks by budgeting properly for the costs you will incur – some of them can be substantial, and some are less obvious than others.
Trusts on Divorce: Are You Stuck with an Ex-Spouse as Trustee?
Trusts may be formed for a variety of reasons, and the purpose and structure of each trust will inform the choice of trustees. When it comes to families aiming to preserve and protect family assets for future generations, often both spouses are appointed not only as beneficiaries, but also as trustees.
Verbal Agreements – Not Much Good, But Lots of Bad and Ugly
A common myth – one that can get you into a whole lot of trouble if you aren’t alive to it – is that verbal contracts are not legally enforceable in South Africa.
Tax Freedom Day 2022: The Day We Stopped Working for Government
“Tax Freedom Day” is the first day of the year on which we South Africans (we’re talking about the “average” taxpayer here) have finally earned enough to pay off SARS and to start working for ourselves.
Landlords: Zoning Law Contravention Could Invalidate Your Lease
Here’s a warning to property owners to know and comply with your local municipal zoning laws. Contravene them at your peril.
Opening of a New Office in Cape Town
We are pleased and excited to announce the opening of a new branch office in Adderley Street, Cape Town.
What Can You Do When Someone Close to You Has No Control Over Their Spending?
What can you do when someone you know (often but not always an elderly relative and/or someone with a gambling, drug or drink problem) starts squandering their money and property irresponsibly and recklessly? Note that we are talking here not about a mentally ill person but about someone “of sound mind but unsound habits”.
Exemption Clauses and Thieving Employees: Can You Sue (or Be Sued)?
Employee theft has been a headache for employers from the dawn of history, and no business should ignore the dangers it poses, particularly if your business handles third-party high value goods. Your chances of being sued if one of your employees steals a customer’s asset/s are high, the reason being of course the concept of “vicarious liability” – the legal rule that can make you generally liable for your employee’s actions.
Don’t Accidentally Disqualify Your Chosen Heirs from Inheriting!
Your will (“Last Will and Testament”) will always be the keystone of your estate planning, and a recent High Court decision sounds yet another warning to beware the “do your own will” concept. By not having his will drawn by a professional, a father inadvertently caused one of his children to be disqualified from inheriting her intended share, whilst her husband was disqualified from being appointed as executor.