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Summary Law of Succession Notes
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Comprehensive summary of full year of lectures, textbook readings and cases.
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TOPIC 11. What is the law of succession?
The Law of Succession is a branch of private law that determines what should happen to a
person's estate when a person is deceased according to legal rules, and to regulate the
devolution of the deceased person’s estate upon one or more persons.
The Law of Succession is concerned with the administration of deceased estates.
2. List the ways in which succession can take place.
1. Testamentary succession: successio extestamento; where a valid will that
disposes of or a will that can be condoned exists according to S2(3) of the Wills
Act.
2. Intestate succession: successio legitima/ successio ab intestato; where there is no
will or an invalid will that cannot be condoned exists; through the operation of the
Law of Intestate Succession
3. Contract/ agreement Succession: successio ex contractu/ pactum successiorium
4. List the main sources of law for the Law of Succession.
There is a dual nature of the law of Succession in South Africa.
Common Law: intestate and testamentary (The legal precedent set by the courts);
transfer of wealth
Customary Law: intestate (Including the Recognition of Customary Law of
Succession and other Related Matters Act of 2009); transfer of rights and
responsibilities
, Legislation: Wills Act 7 of 1953; Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987; Maintenance
of Surviving Spouses Act 27 of 1990; Administration of Estates Act 88 of 1965
5. What is testate and intestate succession?
Testate Intestate
- Valid will - No valid will
- Testamentary capacity - Partially or wholly inoperative
- Choice of Laws and Freedom of
testation
6. What are the exceptions to the presumption that a person (owner of the Estate) must be
dead in order for the Law of Succession to come into force?
1. Estate massing
2. A court order made on the presumption of death
Court orders distribution of estate subject to condition that estate can be returned
Length of time missing, age, health, position in society, circumstances of
disappearance.
7. On the day of the deceased, would the heir acquire ownership of the bequest immediately?
No. Greenberg v Estate Greenberg: vesting takes place upon the death of the testator.
The heir acquires a VESTED PERSONAL RIGHT against the executor to obtain
transfer. The most that an heir can obtain at the death of a deceased in modern SA law is a
personal right against the executor of the estate. After the executor has administered the
estate in terms of the Administration of Estate Act and assuming that the estate assets are
, greater than the liabilities, the executor will transfer the asset. This is the earliest moment
that ownership can take place.
8. Heir V Legatee (Estate vs Asset)
Heir: A beneficiary who inherits a testator's entire estate, a portion of the estate or the residue of
the estate.
Legatee: Testator leaves a specific asset (legacy) to a beneficiary (legatee). A legatee always
inherits a specific asset or a specific sum of money
9. Executor (Dative vs Testamentary)
Executor: person who is authorised to act under letters of executorship granted or signed and
sealed by the Master.
Dative: Deceased dies without a will and did not nominate an executor. Master will appoint an
executor - Executor Dative.
Testamentary: Nominated by testator in a valid will. Master will appoint the nominated person -
Executor Testamentary.
NOTE:
What happens if the Executor makes the wrong distribution?
1. Remove executor from office (Cumes v Estate Cumes)
2. Beneficiary can sue and have the Executor cited as the nominal defendant (Du Toit v
Vermeulen; Gross v Pentz)
, 3. Executor can cede the right of action to the beneficiary (Elizabeth Nursing Home v
Cohen)
Estate Value:
If the estate is valued at less than R250 000, the Admin of Estates Act allows for the appointment
of someone other than an executor to wind up the estate. This is done to minimise costs in the
devolution of the Estate. The appointed person operates in a fiduciary position and therefore
must act in good faith and fulfill their duties.
10. Can an insolvent beneficiary repudiate their inheritance?
The Issue was settled in Wessels v De Jager 2000 (4) SA 924 (SCA).
SCA held:
● When an inheritance becomes due and owing to an insolvent, he acquires a competence
to inherit, but not a right to inherit.
● A beneficiary may repudiate an inheritance.
● This does not cause prejudice to creditors.
● If a beneficiary has not expressly or impliedly accepted an inheritance, it cannot be said
that that inheritance forms part of his estate.
● Since an insolvent has limited legal capacity – the insolvent retains the right either to
accept or to reject the inheritance.
● The right does not pass to his trustee.
11. Power of Assumption:
The testator may give the nominated executor the power of assumption.
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