Legal – The Life of an Entrepreneur

From Legacy to Liability: The Hidden Risks of Neglected Trusts

“Too many South Africans are sitting on neglected, non-compliant family trusts that haven’t been updated since the 1980s,” says Morne Janse van Rensburg, Managing Director at Hobbs Sinclair, a firm specialising in trust and company compliance, management and estate planning. “We regularly come across trusts where the original trustees have passed away, crucial documentation is missing, and tax returns haven’t been filed in years. It’s a ticking compliance timebomb.”

By TheLife Team 2 weeks ago

Is a Family Trust the Right Move for You?

“Many people think of trusts as a once-off transaction, but they’re actually living legal structures that require care and maintenance,” says Rouchos. “If you don’t have a clear reason to set one up—and the commitment to maintain it—you may be better off with a different estate planning route.”

By TheLife Team 2 weeks ago

A Love Worth Fighting For: Then vs. Now

Some say it’s technology — the constant comparison, the easy distractions, the endless options. Others blame stress: the pressure to hustle, the rising cost of living, the burnout. And then there’s the quiet truth nobody likes to admit — sometimes people grow apart, silently, in the same house.

By T Steynfaardt 3 months ago

Divorce Mediation: A Path to Fair and Peaceful Resolutions

At Mediation Solutions, I am not just helping couples dissolve their marriage—I am supporting them through a process that allows them to rebuild their lives. Whether it’s making a fair child custody arrangement, ensuring a just maintenance split, or simply bringing some peace to a difficult time, mediation offers a more compassionate alternative to the often cold and impersonal nature of court proceedings.

By T Steynfaardt 6 months ago

The Benefits of Divorce Mediation and Co-Parenting

By focusing on respectful communication and putting your children first, you can navigate this challenging time in a way that benefits the whole family.

By T Steynfaardt 1 year ago

Legal

WHY ALL THE NEW RED TAPE?

Unless you have better spam filters than I seem to have, your inbox has been inundated with warnings about beneficial ownership. And yes, I see SARS e-mails as spam!

By TheLife Team 1 year ago

Are “Without Prejudice” offers truly without prejudice?

In the world of legal settlements and debt negotiations, the term “without prejudice” has often been used to signify an offer or agreement that cannot be admitted or revealed in court proceedings. However, recent insights from legal rulings raise questions about the true nature of these agreements. PJ Veldhuizen, Managing Director of Gillan and Veldhuizen attorneys, sheds light on the matter.

By TheLife Team 2 years ago

Beyond National Wills Week: What happens to your finances when you die?

National Wills Week (September 11 to September 15), reminds all South Africans of the importance of estate planning. While this annual event serves as a notable reminder, a holistic approach is required to consider the scenarios of the very serious financial and administrative matters that the death of a person leaves behind.

By TheLife Team 2 years ago

Does your organisation comply with the POPI Act yet?

The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act, now a legal requirement for all organisations enforced from 01 July 2021, aims to promote the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies and to regulate the flow of personal information in South Africa, and cross border for that matter, in accordance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). By: David Elliot – Managing Director ISO SHERQ Holdings Pty Ltd

By TheLife Team 3 years ago

Do business the legal way

In order to do business, the legal way, you need to be a registered business and be tax compliant firstly, but you also need to comply with the labour laws of the country. Depending on the type of industry you trade in, there might also be laws governing the in- and out- flow of goods or services, and how you deal with payments. By Linda Botts

By TheLife Team 3 years ago

SARS AUTO ASSESSMENT

By Probity Advisory (Pty) Ltd (Ashley Mhona (Tax Consultant) and Dr Gerhard Nienaber (Tax Director))

By TheLife Team 3 years ago

Options in Dispute Resolution: Mediation, Arbitration or Litigation?

When it comes to disputes resolution it’s sometimes hard to make the correct decision on what route to follow. Some contracts state that the parties must “mediate” a dispute before “litigation” or “arbitration.” By Tanya Steynfaardt

By T Steynfaardt 3 years ago

The SARS headache

A few people jump with joy when a notification is received that SARS is requesting additional information. Honestly, for most people just mentioning SARS results in an instant headache. By Gerty Green

By TheLife Team 4 years ago

A Father’s right to fight?

With divorce rates higher than ever before, the question inevitably becomes whether the battle for custody is an equal playing field. By Twane Twinx Humphreys

By TheLife Team 4 years ago

TITLE DEEDS

The importance of a title Deed should never be underestimated. Here is why:

By Maritza du Plessis

By TheLife Team 4 years ago

Does your organisation comply with the POPI Act yet?

The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act, now a legal requirement for all organisations enforced from 01 July 2021, aims to promote the protection of personal information processed by public and private bodies and to regulate the flow of personal information in South Africa, and cross border for that matter, in accordance with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
By: David Elliot – Managing Director ISO SHERQ Holdings Pty Ltd

By TheLife Team 4 years ago

MARRIAGE TO-DO LIST #1. ANTENUPTIAL CONTRACT.

There is a saying in Afrikaans that goes: “Trou is nie perdekoop nie.”

By TheLife Team 4 years ago

SA Employment Law Statutes……Are you compliant?

Who would have thought that an organisation’s Labour Force, it’s most valued asset, is also its biggest risk?

By TheLife Team 4 years ago

DIVORCE MEDIATION: SIT DOWN AND TALK, BEFORE YOU LAWYER UP.

Our Divorce rate in South Africa sadly stands on 46% and whilst Divorce Mediation is a relatively new concept in South Africa, first world countries has been on the forefront of alternative dispute resolution because they believe in taking charge of their divorces.

By TheLife Team 4 years ago