At LawDotNews, we often lead our September issue with a focus on wills and estate planning. It’s not just a seasonal topic—it’s a valuable opportunity for attorneys to connect meaningfully with clients on one of the most important decisions they’ll ever make.
Each year, the Law Society of South Africa’s National Wills Week takes place in September, with this year’s campaign running from 15 to 19 September 2025. The initiative encourages attorneys to draft basic wills for the public at no cost, reinforcing the crucial role the legal profession plays in ensuring that every South African has a valid, well-considered will.
Alongside this, September is increasingly referred to in South Africa as Wills Month, and many legal and financial service providers use this time to highlight the importance of getting one’s affairs in order.
Why This Matters
Wills Month provides a clear reason to reach out to clients—not just those who don’t yet have a will, but also those whose wills may be outdated or need reviewing. Offering a free will during this time does more than support a national campaign; it positions your firm as accessible, proactive, and community-minded.
And as any attorney involved in estates and estate planning knows, your role doesn’t end when the will is signed. The real value often comes later, when grieving families rely on you to help navigate the complex administrative and legal processes of winding up an estate. That’s where building trust early on—through clear, thoughtful engagement—can make all the difference.
Going Beyond the Will
To support this process, LawDotNews has created a branded document available to our clients: “Notes for my Executor and Loved Ones.” This optional add-on complements your estate planning service by providing your clients with a structured way to record essential information for their family and executor.
It’s not a legal document—but it can be a lifeline.
It includes prompts and sections for your clients to capture:
- Contact details of key advisers
- Passwords and access codes
- Details of bank accounts, investments, insurance, and liabilities
- Wishes regarding funeral arrangements, pets, and personal directives
- A comprehensive index of important documents and where they are kept
By offering this form, you’re showing clients that you’ve considered the full picture—not just the will, but the practical details that can overwhelm loved ones left behind.
We don’t recommend sharing it as a download link. Instead, include it as part of your client interaction, either by printing it out for them to complete by hand or saving it on their behalf as a password-protected document.
Positioning Your Firm During Wills Month
Here are a few ways your firm can maximise the value of September:
- Let your clients know if you’re participating in National Wills Week and clearly communicate the date range
- Offer free basic will drafting as part of the initiative, with transparent conditions
- Follow up with clients after the consultation to encourage them to complete the “Notes for my Executor and Loved Ones” form
- Use the occasion to invite existing clients to review and update their wills
For more information about National Wills Week see the Law Society of South Africa’s page on it here, and if you wish to register for it, you can do so here.
A Final Note
Wills Month isn’t just a marketing hook—it’s an opportunity to offer a meaningful service that reflects the values of the legal profession. By being part of it, and by going a step further with tools like the “Notes for my Executor and Loved Ones” document, your firm becomes not just a service provider, but a trusted guide during one of life’s most difficult times.