Click here to learn more about PPS Fiduciary.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s where the Will to be wise comes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unmarried, but not unentangled<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cohabiting retirees often live in what we call the autonomy paradox<\/em>: free to design their lives together, but with fewer legal safety nets than married couples.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd here\u2019s the kicker, without a Will, the law won\u2019t automatically protect your partner. In fact, your surviving partner could be left with nothing at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Roy McMurchie, Head of Fiduciary Services at PPS<\/strong><\/em>, explains, \u201cA Will is the bridge between love and the law. For cohabitants, it\u2019s the only way to make sure your intentions are respected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nFour gaps cohabiting retirees often overlook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Medical decision-making<\/strong>
No Will? No healthcare directives? Then hospitals aren\u2019t obliged to involve your partner in critical medical decisions.
2. Property pitfalls<\/strong>
If the home is in one partner\u2019s name, it could pass to their heirs, not the partner who actually lives there.
3. Tax talk<\/strong>
Spouses get estate duty exemptions. Cohabiting partners? Not so lucky \u2013 cue capital gains tax and estate duty.
4. Pension pickles<\/strong>
Even if your partner is a named beneficiary, trustees have the final say. Delays, disputes, or diversions can happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA three-pillar plan for cohabiting partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
At PPS Fiduciary, we believe planning for love and legacy is absolutely Will-able.
Here\u2019s how to start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Cohabitation agreements<\/strong>
Spell out financial responsibilities and asset rights \u2013 before life (or the law) decides for you.
\u2022 Trust structures<\/strong>
A trust \u2013 like the PPS Beneficiaries Trust \u2013 safeguards wealth, especially where children or vulnerable dependants are involved. Think of it as a protective bubble for your partner\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2022 Regular reviews<\/strong>
Love evolves. So should your paperwork. Review Wills, directives, and digital access every year, or whenever life takes a turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\nModern love, modern assets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Did you know 63% of cohabiting clients forget about digital assets like crypto, NFTs, or even online royalties? That\u2019s future wealth potentially lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As McMurchie<\/em><\/strong> puts it: \u201cModern love needs modern planning. The Will to be wise means planning for the unexpected, from Bitcoin to family heirlooms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy bother?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Because estate planning isn\u2019t about wealth alone, it\u2019s about clarity, dignity, and continuity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s about making sure your partner is looked after, your wishes are honoured, and your legacy reflects your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Wills Month serves as an important national reminder, the need to draft or update a Will should not be confined to a single week or month each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life changes continuously, relationships evolve, assets shift, and families grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treating estate planning as an ongoing commitment rather than a once-a-year exercise ensures that your affairs remain current and your loved ones are protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your family: the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will be cared for and guided by your intentions when you no longer can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, if you\u2019re cohabiting in retirement, remember verbal promises won\u2019t cut it. Only a Will makes it real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give yourself and your loved one the ultimate gift: the Will to be wise.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nPPS Fiduciary<\/a><\/strong> is here to help you make it official, fair, and future proof. Because when love meets legacy, it\u2019s always Will-able.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"More and more South African retirees are choosing companionship over convention \u2013 living together without walking down the aisle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":839434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10459],"tags":[11467,23775,23773,23776,23774],"class_list":["post-839433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry-news","tag-pps","tag-pps-beneficiaries-trust","tag-pps-fiduciary","tag-pps-wills","tag-roy-mcmurchie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=839433"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839433\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":839438,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/839433\/revisions\/839438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/839434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=839433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=839433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=839433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}