14/10/2026
Single, no kids, no will — do you know who inherits your estate?
Most people don't think about it. But South African law has a clear answer, and it might not match what you'd choose.
Under the Intestate Succession Act, your estate moves through a fixed order: children first, then parents, then siblings, then more distant relatives. The law doesn't account for estranged family, unmarried partners, or anyone outside that bloodline hierarchy.
The only way to make sure your estate goes where you actually want it to go is to have a valid will in place.
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Dying without a valid will doesn't mean your estate goes to the state. In South Africa, it means the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987 takes over and