What should a conveyancer do?

Conveyancing (or conveyance) is the legal term for the process whereby a person, company, close corporation or trust becomes the registered and legal owner of immovable property and ensures that this ownership cannot be challenged. It also covers the process of the registration of mortgages. Conveyancing in South Africa can only be carried out by […]

The basics of Estate Duty

When a person dies, they leave behind an estate which includes everything they own. Estate Duty is payable on the estate of every person who dies and whose nett estate is in excess of R3,5 million. It is charged at the rate of 20%. Currently, SARS is responsible for collecting the Estate Duty of a […]

How and when to use the small claims court

The small claims court (SCC) is for anyone who wants to institute a minor civil claim against someone else. You can also claim against companies and associations. However, the claims are limited to amounts that are less than R15 000. This excludes the State, meaning a person cannot make a claim against a local municipality, […]

Customary marriages in South Africa

In South Africa, there are various forms of marriage, which includes Civil Marriage, Customary Marriage and Civil Union. For a long time, customary unions (marriages) did not have the same full legal status as civil marriages (e.g. magistrate’s court marriages) had in South African law. This was unfair discrimination and also made women in customary […]