What to do if you can't sign your will

SOMEONE recently tried to submit a will signed in Braille.

- DEENISHA NADESAN

It's not legal, but it highlights the challenges that some people face. The good news is that there are viable solutions for many of them.So, what happens if you cannot sign your will with the conventional pen on paper? Does this mean having no say in what happens to your assets? Thankfully, it does not.

South African law recognises that not every person can sign conventionally. So it also allows thumbprints, marks, and signatures by proxy. But there are strict rules about witnessing and certification. This means that everyone, regardless of disability or circumstance, can exercise their right to a valid will and leave a legacy. These are some of the scenarios that Capital Legacy encounters, from time to time, as it works to improve the alarming statistic of an estimated 70% of South Africans not having valid wills. In all these cases, the strict rules for witnessing and certification (see below) must be followed to make sure the will is valid.