In hierdie navorsingsverslag word gefokus op die beperkings wat geplaas word op die testeervryheid van ʼn persoon in die breë sin. Die beginsel van testeervryheid is die grondslag van die Suid-Afrikaanse testate erfopvolging. Die Suid-Afrikaanse opvatting van testeervryheid is tans van so ʼn aard dat dit ʼn testateur toelaat om sy of haar boedelbates te bemaak volgens sy of haar goeddunke, onderworpe aan ʼn paar statutêre en gemeenregtelike uitsonderings. By die bepaling of ʼn spesifieke klousule in ʼn testament vervat kan word, sal sodanige klousule eerstens teen die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika getoets moet word om te bepaal of sodanige klousule moontlik op ʼn grondwetlik verskanste reg inbreuk maak. Verdere statutêre beperkings sluit onder meer die reg om oor onroerende eiendom te beskik wat gereël word deur die Wet op die Opheffing of Wysiging van Beperkinge op Onroerende Goed, die reg van ʼn minderjarige kind om onderhoud te eis van die boedel, die Wet op Onderhoud van Langslewende Gades en die Wet op Pensioenfondse in. Testeervryheid word direk gekoppel aan elke persoon se fundamentele regte wat in die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika gewaarborg word. Die beginsel van testeervryheid is in verskeie sake aangespreek en word hierdie sake vervolgens bespreek. Die tipe huweliksgoederebedeling ingevolge waarvan ʼn huwelik gesluit word is ʼn verdere beperking op die mate waartoe ʼn testateur vrylik oor sy of haar bates kan beskik. Die invloed van huwelike binne en buite gemeenskap van goedere op testeervryheid en die Wet op Onderhoud van Langslewende Gades word ontleed, sowel as die onderhoudsverpligting wat ontstaan vanuit die huwelik tussen gades en teenoor minderjarige kinders. Maatskaplike sekuriteit word gereël in terme van artikel 27 van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika en is artikel 37C van die Pensioenfondswet geïnkorporeer wat verseker dat ʼn persoon se pensioenvoordele moet voorsien aan die onderhoudsbehoeftes van afhanklikes van die lid. Die werking van artikel 37C en die invloed daarvan op testeervryheid word bespreek. Die laaste beperking wat hanteer word is beperkings ten opsigte van bemakings van onroerende eiendom. Hierdie bemakings word beperk deur die werking van die Wet op die Opheffing of Wysiging van Beperkinge op Onroerende Goed asook die Wet op die Onderverdeling van Landbougrond. Die navorsingsverslag doen gevolglik ʼn in diepte ondersoek na die beperkings wat ontstaan op testeervryheid, die relevansie en werking daarvan en word daar bepaal of die beperkings as billik geag kan word of nie. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In hierdie navorsingsverslag word gefokus op die beperkings wat geplaas word op die testeervryheid van ʼn persoon in die breë sin. Die beginsel van testeervryheid is die grondslag van die Suid-Afrikaanse testate erfopvolging. Die Suid-Afrikaanse opvatting van testeervryheid is tans van so ʼn aard dat dit ʼn testateur toelaat om sy of haar boedelbates te bemaak volgens sy of haar goeddunke, onderworpe aan ʼn paar statutêre en gemeenregtelike uitsonderings. By die bepaling of ʼn spesifieke klousule in ʼn testament vervat kan word, sal sodanige klousule eerstens teen die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika getoets moet word om te bepaal of sodanige klousule moontlik op ʼn grondwetlik verskanste reg inbreuk maak. Verdere statutêre beperkings sluit onder meer die reg om oor onroerende eiendom te beskik wat gereël word deur die Wet op die Opheffing of Wysiging van Beperkinge op Onroerende Goed, die reg van ʼn minderjarige kind om onderhoud te eis van die boedel, die Wet op Onderhoud van Langslewende Gades en die Wet op Pensioenfondse in. Testeervryheid word direk gekoppel aan elke persoon se fundamentele regte wat in die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika gewaarborg word. Die beginsel van testeervryheid is in verskeie sake aangespreek en word hierdie sake vervolgens bespreek. Die tipe huweliksgoederebedeling ingevolge waarvan ʼn huwelik gesluit word is ʼn verdere beperking op die mate waartoe ʼn testateur vrylik oor sy of haar bates kan beskik. Die invloed van huwelike binne en buite gemeenskap van goedere op testeervryheid en die Wet op Onderhoud van Langslewende Gades word ontleed, sowel as die onderhoudsverpligting wat ontstaan vanuit die huwelik tussen gades en teenoor minderjarige kinders. Maatskaplike sekuriteit word gereël in terme van artikel 27 van die Grondwet van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika en is artikel 37C van die Pensioenfondswet geïnkorporeer wat verseker dat ʼn persoon se pensioenvoordele moet voorsien aan die onderhoudsbehoeftes van afhanklikes van die lid. Die werking van artikel 37C en die invloed daarvan op testeervryheid word bespreek. Die laaste beperking wat hanteer word is beperkings ten opsigte van bemakings van onroerende eiendom. Hierdie bemakings word beperk deur die werking van die Wet op die Opheffing of Wysiging van Beperkinge op Onroerende Goed asook die Wet op die Onderverdeling van Landbougrond. Die navorsingsverslag doen gevolglik ʼn in diepte ondersoek na die beperkings wat ontstaan op testeervryheid, die relevansie en werking daarvan en word daar bepaal of die beperkings as billik geag kan word of nie. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

In this research report the estate implications for a marriage or civil partnership, entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act, are identified by determining the impact thereof and whether or not there are any differences with regard to the estate implications of a traditional marriage. The Civil Union Act came into effect to give legality to the relationship between homosexual couples by providing the option to conclude a marriage or civil partnership. Both of these institutions thus have the same legal consequences. According to Section 13 of the Civil Union Act the implications of the Marriage Act also apply to the Civil Union Act. The feasibility of this principle is not taken into account regarding estate implications. Since a marriage and civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act differs from a traditional marriage, it leads to uncertainty with regard to the application of this principle. This uncertainty and estate implications are the topic of this study. The total effect of the Civil Union Act is not discussed in the Civil Union Act, but rather consists of references to other legislation. Consequently the specific estate implications for a marriage or civil partnership, entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act, are discussed with specific focus on marriage regimes, maintenance, purchasing of household necessities, donations and tax benefits. Both the position before and after the Civil Union Act are considered. Firstly marriage regimes are discussed since it is the first step in identifying estate implications for the marriage or civil partnership. Maintenance is considered a direct result of a marriage and is referred to in many laws. It is therefore necessary to discuss the content of the legislation and whether or not it is compatible with the Civil Union Act. The buying of household necessities, donations and tax benefits has a unique effect on a marriage and the focus in this study is on the effect it has on a marriage and civil partnership entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act. The conclusion is that this research report will provide clarity on what exactly the estate implications are for parties who have married or concluded a civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

In this research report the estate implications for a marriage or civil partnership, entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act, are identified by determining the impact thereof and whether or not there are any differences with regard to the estate implications of a traditional marriage. The Civil Union Act came into effect to give legality to the relationship between homosexual couples by providing the option to conclude a marriage or civil partnership. Both of these institutions thus have the same legal consequences. According to Section 13 of the Civil Union Act the implications of the Marriage Act also apply to the Civil Union Act. The feasibility of this principle is not taken into account regarding estate implications. Since a marriage and civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act differs from a traditional marriage, it leads to uncertainty with regard to the application of this principle. This uncertainty and estate implications are the topic of this study. The total effect of the Civil Union Act is not discussed in the Civil Union Act, but rather consists of references to other legislation. Consequently the specific estate implications for a marriage or civil partnership, entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act, are discussed with specific focus on marriage regimes, maintenance, purchasing of household necessities, donations and tax benefits. Both the position before and after the Civil Union Act are considered. Firstly marriage regimes are discussed since it is the first step in identifying estate implications for the marriage or civil partnership. Maintenance is considered a direct result of a marriage and is referred to in many laws. It is therefore necessary to discuss the content of the legislation and whether or not it is compatible with the Civil Union Act. The buying of household necessities, donations and tax benefits has a unique effect on a marriage and the focus in this study is on the effect it has on a marriage and civil partnership entered into in terms of the Civil Union Act. The conclusion is that this research report will provide clarity on what exactly the estate implications are for parties who have married or concluded a civil partnership in terms of the Civil Union Act. / LLM (Estate Law), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014