South Africa: Family and Matrimonial

Estate planning is often approached as a process of deciding who should inherit which assets. While that is an important starting point, it does not fully address the tax consequences of how those assets devolve.

South African law permits parents to register immovable property in their minor child's name, but this decision carries significant legal implications that extend far beyond the initial purchase. While the transaction offers certain estate planning and asset protection benefits, it fundamentally transfers ownership to the child and severely restricts parental control over future dealings with the property. Any subsequent sale requires court oversight, Master approval, and proceeds are typically held in trus

Couples often make decisions about their marriage regime for sensible reasons.