Benaters

05/09/2026

We can afford the house. What else should we budget for?
Buying a home is an exciting life moment, but the purchase price is not always the full picture.

One cost buyers may need to plan for is transfer duty, a tax payable to SARS on certain property transactions, depending on the value and nature of the purchase.

And when you are already working through deposits, bond applications, moving costs and everything else that comes with buying a home, having an early idea of that figure can make planning a little easier.

That is why Benaters created the free SA Transfer Duty Calculator Chrome extension.

Enter the property value and get a quick transfer-duty estimate while you browse property online.

The extension:
• Works offline
• Does not collect your data
• Provides a quick estimate to support early property planning

It is a useful starting point, rather than a final quotation, and transfer duty is only one of the costs that may form part of a property transaction.

When you are ready to move forward, Benaters can help explain the legal costs, documents and conveyancing steps involved from offer to registration.

Estimate your transfer duty with the free Benaters Chrome extension:
https://link.benaters.com/transfer-duty-calculator

02/09/2026

I was named executor. Can I start dealing with the estate?

After a loved one passes away, responsibility can arrive before the family feels ready.

There may be bank accounts, property, debts and documents that need attention. Family members may also be looking to the person named in the will for answers.

But being named as executor is only one part of the process.

Before someone can act officially on behalf of the estate, the estate must be reported to the Master of the High Court. The Master must then issue the relevant Letter of Executorship or Letter of Authority, depending on the value and circumstances of the estate.

Until that authority has been issued, the nominated executor should not assume that they can begin dealing with estate assets in an official capacity.

Benaters helps families understand what needs to be reported, which documents are required, what the executor’s responsibilities will involve and what should happen next.

You do not need to work through every question alone before asking for guidance.

Read the Benaters explanation of a Letter of Executorship:
https://link.benaters.com/executor-help

28/08/2026

Do I need an attorney for this, or am I overthinking it?
Many people wait because they are not sure whether their question is “serious enough” for legal help.

But a short conversation can often clarify whether legal guidance is needed, which service applies, and what the next step should be.

This can happen during the legal moments that matter most: buying or selling a property, dealing with the death of a loved one, updating a will, planning a marriage contract, preparing documents for use overseas, or managing a South African matter from abroad.

You do not need to have every answer before making an enquiry.

Benaters assists private clients through important legal moments with clear, practical guidance.

If you are unsure where your matter fits, start with a conversation through the Benaters website.
Contact Benaters here:
https://benaters.com/contact-us?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=august_2026&utm_content=post_12_legal_guidance_conversation

26/08/2026

That email looks real. Call anyway.

This is one of the most important moments in a property or legal matter: before money is transferred.

Property transactions and legal matters often involve payment instructions, banking details and sensitive documents. That makes verification essential before any funds are paid.

Fraudulent emails can look convincing, especially when they appear to come from a familiar person or firm.

Before paying transfer costs, deposits, fees or any amount linked to a legal matter, pause and verify the banking details directly with the person handling your matter.

Do not rely only on an email.
- Stop.
- Check the details carefully.
- Call using a known contact number.

Benaters encourages clients to verify banking details directly before transferring funds.
A quick call can help prevent a costly mistake.
Use the official Benaters website to confirm contact details:
https://benaters.com/contact-us?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=august_2026&utm_content=post_11_client_safety_banking_details

25/08/2026

We’re honoured to be featured by Top Wedding Suppliers.

As a husband-and-wife team, we understand that conversations about an antenuptial contract, finances and property can feel very personal. Our role is to make the legal side clear and approachable, so couples understand their options and can make informed decisions together.

Thank you for the lovely feature.

🌟 𝑭𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑼𝑹𝑬𝑫 𝑺𝑼𝑷𝑷𝑳𝑰𝑬𝑹 𝑺𝑷𝑶𝑻𝑳𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 🌟

“𝐴𝑠 𝑎 ℎ𝑢𝑠𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑-𝑎𝑛𝑑-𝑤𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠, 𝑤𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛’𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑙 – 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦’𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙.”

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 & 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬 are one of the leading legal names in the wedding industry. They believe in giving couples the strongest possible foundation to start their life together.

Read the full 𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 here: https://www.topweddingsuppliers.co.za/supplier-spotlight-benaters-attorneys-notaries-conveyancers/

Benaters

24/08/2026

The property is in a trust. The paperwork is different.

This often comes up during important property moments: selling a family property, transferring an investment property, dealing with trust-owned property, or trying to move a transaction forward when the seller is not an individual.

A property transfer does not always involve only one individual buyer and one individual seller.

When a property is owned by a trust, company or partnership, the conveyancing process can require additional checks before the transfer moves forward.

The conveyancer may need to confirm who has authority to act, who may sign, what resolutions are required, and which supporting documents must be provided for the ownership structure involved.

These details matter because missing or incorrect authority documents can slow down a transfer.

Benaters assists with conveyancing and property transfers, including matters involving individuals, companies, close corporations, trusts and other ownership structures.

If you are selling or transferring a property held in a trust, company or partnership, start with Benaters so the correct documents and authority checks can be addressed early.
Learn more about conveyancing:
https://benaters.com/property-conveyancing?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=august_2026&utm_content=post_10_trust_company_partnership_property

21/08/2026

You are overseas, but a South African document still needs your signature.

This can happen during important life moments: selling a property back home, dealing with a deceased estate, helping family in South Africa, signing a power of attorney, or managing a document that must be used locally.
The signing process is not always the same.

Depending on the document and the country where you are signing, the document may need to be signed before a notary, apostilled, authenticated, couriered back to South Africa or signed through a South African embassy.

Benaters assists South Africans abroad with document-related legal support, helping clients understand the signing route that applies to their matter.

This can include notarial services, apostilles, legalisation and guidance on South African property or estate documents that need to be dealt with from overseas.

If you are outside South Africa and a local document needs your signature, ask Benaters to help you understand the next step before the process stalls.
Learn more about notarial and document support:
https://benaters.com/notarial-work?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=august_2026&utm_content=post_09_signing_from_overseas

19/08/2026

The family is grieving. The paperwork can still arrive quickly.

After the death of a loved one, families are often expected to deal with documents, decisions and estate responsibilities before they feel ready.

A deceased estate can involve confirming whether there is a will, identifying who should act, reporting the estate, gathering information about assets and liabilities, dealing with beneficiaries, settling debts and moving through the administration process.

But the family does not need to have every document perfectly ready before asking for help.

The first step is often understanding what is needed now, what can follow later, and who should guide the process.

Benaters assists families with deceased estate administration and helps explain the documents, responsibilities and next steps involved.

If your family is dealing with the estate of a loved one, start with clear guidance before trying to work through the paperwork alone.
Learn more about wills, trusts and estates:
https://benaters.com/wills-trusts-estates?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=august_2026&utm_content=post_08_deceased_estate_documents

Download the deceased estate guide here:
https://benaters.com/guide-deceased-estates?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=august_2026&utm_content=post_08_deceased_estate_guide

17/08/2026

Not every South African document follows the same route overseas.

This often becomes important during big life moments, such as getting married abroad, applying for work or study opportunities, relocating, dealing with family responsibilities, or needing South African documents accepted in another country.

A birth certificate, police clearance certificate, university degree, power of attorney, affidavit or notarial document may each need a different process before it can be accepted overseas.

The correct route can depend on the document type, where it will be used, which organisation is requesting it, and whether the receiving country has specific requirements.

In some cases, the process may involve notarisation. In others, it may involve a DIRCO apostille, High Court apostille, SAQA authentication, HPCSA authentication, embassy attestation or another legalisation step.

This is where specialised notarial guidance matters.
Benaters assists South Africans abroad with notarial services, apostilles and document legalisation, helping clients understand the correct route for South African documents intended for use overseas.

If you are outside South Africa and need a local document recognised abroad, ask Benaters to help identify the correct document route before you begin the process.

Learn more about notarial and document legalisation services:
https://benaters.com/notarial-work

14/08/2026

A signed offer is an important step, but it is not the end of the property transfer process.

Before signing an offer to purchase, it is also worth checking that the details of your preferred conveyancer have been correctly included, if the buyer and seller have agreed on this before signing.

After the offer is signed, the legal transfer still needs to move through documents, checks, approvals and Deeds Office registration before ownership changes.

This is why a transfer can still feel uncertain even when both buyer and seller are ready to move forward.

The conveyancing process can include preparing transfer documents, obtaining required clearances, dealing with bond-related steps where applicable, lodging documents, Deeds Office examination and final registration.

Benaters assists buyers and sellers with conveyancing guidance so the process feels clearer from offer to registration.

If you have signed an offer, accepted an offer, or are waiting for a property transfer to move forward, visit the Benaters conveyancing page to understand what happens next:
https://benaters.com/property-conveyancing?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=august_2026&utm_content=post_06_offer_signed_transfer_process