Austen Smith Attorneys

29/05/2026

Your property sale collapsed — can you get your deposit back? 🏡💸 Read our clear breakdown of what can happen when a purchase falls through, using a real Kyalami case as an example. Know your rights and next steps to protect your money. Read more: https://wix.to/fxX0koY

“A creature with a big enough head to make a contract should have the sense to make one it can keep.” (Barbara Kingsolver)A R1.725 million deposit. A bank guarantee that never arrived. A property that ultimately sold for significantly less than the original price. What happens to the deposit mon...

29/05/2026

Married out of community of property but wondering if you still have a claim? A recent court decision awarded 40% of an estate to a spouse who supported the home, raised children and contributed financially — despite an antenuptial contract that suggested otherwise. Read the full analysis and what this could mean for you: https://wix.to/5rjkExK

"Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both." (Eleanor Roosevelt)Under the antenuptial contract alone, she would have had no claim on his estate. The court found otherwise. A woman who spent three decades running a home, raising her husband's children, supporting his career, and maki...

29/05/2026

A collapsed deck, a R1.55M home and a decade-long legal fight. In “Dodgy Deck: When a Property Defect is Your Problem, Not the Seller’s” we unpack what happened when buyers discovered serious defects months after moving in — and why the court found against them. Read the full case study and the lessons every buyer and seller should know: https://wix.to/MCKEysq

"The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller not one." (George Herbert)A Marina Da Gama property. A collapsed wooden deck. A purchase price of R1.55 million and repair costs claimed of just over R100 000. The facts are not complicated. But the legal battle that followed lasted more than a decade.What...

11/05/2026

✨ 47 YEARS of dedication, loyalty and heart ✨

Today we celebrate our incredible receptionist, Shireen, who has been part of the Austen Smith Attorneys family for an amazing 47 years! 💼🤍

For nearly five decades, Shireen has been the warm smile greeting clients, the calm voice on the phone, and the steady heartbeat of our office. Her kindness, professionalism and unwavering commitment have touched generations of staff and clients alike.

Very few people leave a legacy the way Shireen has — and we are beyond grateful for everything she has poured into this firm over the years. 🌟

Thank you, Shireen, for your loyalty, hard work, grace and the countless lives you’ve impacted along the way. You are truly one of a kind and such a treasured part of our Austen Smith family.

Here’s to 47 remarkable years and the incredible

05/05/2026

We're hiring! Join our Conveyancing Department as a Conveyancing Secretary. If you have strong secretarial skills and experience managing property transfers and deceased estate matters from start to finish, we want to hear from you. Key duties include client contact, document requests (F**A), diarising transfers in LexisNexis, and following up on progress. Apply or learn more: https://wix.to/NM094tm

A vacancy has become available within our Conveyancing DepartmentJob Description • General secretarial responsibilities; • Attend to local transfers from initial stages to finalisation; • Attend to deceased estate transfers from initial stages to finalisation; • Contact clients once get sale...

04/05/2026

New on the Austen Smith blog: She Fell Out of a Safari Vehicle: When Disclaimers Fail — a 2026 Supreme Court of Appeal judgment that shows a disclaimer’s power depends on the process behind it. Read how courts scrutinize waivers and what businesses should do to reduce risk. Read more: https://wix.to/Y0QPCyo

"The big print giveth and the fine print taketh away." (Tom Waits)You have almost certainly signed a disclaimer at some point. A waiver before a trail run, an indemnity form before a bungee jump, a clause buried in a brochure. Businesses rely on these documents to limit their exposure when things go...

04/05/2026

Good rules make good neighbours. Dive into our latest blog on how bodies corporate and HOAs should apply rules with common sense — and what can happen when they don't. Practical guidance for balancing individual rights with community well-being. Read more: https://wix.to/WL694LI

"Good rules make good neighbours." (Old proverb, updated)The many benefits of living in a residential complex come, naturally enough, with obligations as well as rights.With its innate potential for conflict between competing rights, community living requires a fine balancing act between the individ...

22/04/2026

Meet David 💫 the IT Manager behind the technology that helps keep Austen Smith Attorneys running smoothly.

With over 15 years of IT experience, he looks after the firm’s infrastructure, security, backups, networks, and systems, making sure staff have the tools and support they need every day.

Practical, hardworking, and solutions-focused, David is passionate about using technology to solve problems, improve efficiency, and protect the business 🖥👏🏼 David Williams

16/04/2026

✨ Meet Jo – Our Superstar Paralegal ✨

At Austen Smith Attorneys, Jo is the powerhouse behind the scenes keeping everything running smoothly. With her incredible attention to detail, she plays a vital role in supporting both our team and our clients every single day.

As a paralegal, Jo assists with:
📂 Drafting legal documents and correspondence
📑 Managing case files and organising important documentation
📞 Communicating with clients and keeping them informed
🗂️ Filing, tracking deadlines, and ensuring everything stays on schedule

Her dedication, efficiency, and passion for what she does make her an absolute asset to our firm.

We’re so lucky to have you, Jo! 💼✨

09/04/2026

Legacy is more than paperwork — it’s the values, stories, and guidance we pass on. Read our latest blog “Beyond Your Will: Leaving a Legacy” for practical ways to preserve your family history and share wisdom with your heirs. Read now: https://wix.to/1Iw0MJ0