Would your partner inherit from you if something happened tomorrow? For a lot of couples, the honest answer is no.
In South Africa, a will is what decides who receives what you leave behind. Without one, the law steps in and follows a fixed list of who counts as an heir. That list starts with a spouse and children. It was written around marriage.
A partner you have lived with for years, shared a home with and built a life with is generally not on that list. Not because anyone decided they did not matter. Because the paperwork never said they did.
Picture the weeks after a death. Grief, a funeral to pay for, and a partner who is not sure whether they can stay in the home you shared. Family members who barely spoke to you suddenly have a legal claim, and the person closest to you has none.
It gets more tangled with assets that sit outside the will. Beneficiary nominations on policies and investment accounts follow their own rules, and many were completed years ago, when life looked different.
None of this is about being married or not. It is about whether the people you would want looked after are actually written down somewhere.
A will that names your partner takes about 20 minutes to update. Leaving it undone can take far longer to untangle.
If this is something you have been putting off, feel free to reach out.
This article is general information to help you think about your finances. It is not financial advice and does not consider your personal circumstances. Speak to an adviser before making decisions.