Originally published: 16 November 2016 | Last updated: 17 July 2025
TL;DR: More than 65% of South African adults postpone their Will writing process. The main reasons are fear of mortality, perceived complexity, cost concerns, and the belief that it can wait. Your family needs defense because you have no valid excuses to neglect their safety. The process of creating a Will online at LegalWills.co.za requires only twenty minutes to complete.
Why Do People Procrastinate on Writing a Will?
Fear of Confronting Mortality
Procrastination on Will-writing is a widespread problem in South Africa, with over 65% of adults lacking a valid Will. The Intestate Succession Act takes control of your estate because you failed to create a Will which would have allowed you to decide how your assets should be distributed. People need to understand their procrastination behavior before they can learn to stop delaying their work.
Perceived Complexity
You must deal with death when you create a Will. People tend to avoid this practice because it creates fear about their upcoming death. A Will serves to defend your family members because it functions as a demonstration of love instead of being a dark legal requirement. People feel overwhelmed by this task because they view it as a difficult process.
Cost Concerns
The general public in South Africa feels they need professional legal help to write their Wills. LegalWills.co.za operates through online systems which transform user responses into complete legal documents without requiring people to understand the law. The platform allows users to create complete legal documents through its user-friendly interface.
“I’ll Do It Later”
People avoid legal assistance because traditional lawyer fees start at R1,500 and can exceed R5,000. The availability of online services has enabled South Africans from all backgrounds to access affordable Will-writing services.
What Are the Consequences of Delaying?
- “I’ll Do It Later”
- People use this excuse to create the most dangerous situation. Life contains unpredictable elements because people can experience accidents and illnesses and surprising occurrences which occur throughout their entire lifespan. Your family remains without protection throughout each day which passes since you did not create a Will.
- The Intestate Succession Act controls your estate
- No guardians appointed for your children
- A stranger may administer your estate
How to Stop Procrastinating
Common-law partners inherit nothing
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of South Africans don’t have a Will?
Friends and charities receive nothing
How long does it take to make a Will online?
You need to find twenty minutes today to focus on your work. Visit LegalWills.co.za and complete your Will. The peace of mind is immediate.
He has over 20 years of experience helping people to write their Will and other estate planning documents. He has been interviewed by many of the major news media outlets and has contributed to articles in most leading publications. He has also contributed to a number of financial planning books.
Throughout his career, Tim has written extensively on the subject of Will writing and estate planning.
