South Africa Wills Report 2026: Why 67% Have No Will

South Africans don't need much convincing that having a will is a good idea. Getting around to writing one is another story. Our 2026 research found that 67% of South Africans don't have a will, even though 77% believe having one is important - no matter how much or how little they own.

The gap got us wondering: if we already know a will matters, what's actually stopping us?

So we asked 1800 South Africans across all 9 provinces about the plans they've made for when they're gone, the ones they're still putting off, what they understand about how wills protect the lives they're working hard to build and the people they care about the most.

Turns out, it's not that we don't care

What we discovered was a mix of good intentions, everyday procrastination and some surprisingly common misconceptions. We heard from people who think they don't own enough to warrant getting a will. People who know they should have one, but haven't quite gotten around to it. And people who are making assumptions about inheritance and what the law will do when there is no will in place. 

We put our findings together in our new report, Where there's a will, there's a way, which looks at what's really behind South Africa's will gap - who is most likely to have one, what keeps the rest of us waiting, the myths we're getting wrong and what finally gets people to take action.

Wills Week is a reminder. Your life is the reason.

National Wills Week is a good time to get people talking about wills. But your reasons for having one don’t begin and end with a week on the calendar. A will is your opportunity to make your wishes clear, protect the people who matter to you and make some of life’s hardest decisions a little easier for the people left to make them.

And if you’re already a LAW FOR ALL policyholder, getting yours done is simpler than you might think.

A little will power and legal support go a long way...

When we asked South Africans what would make getting a will easier for them, the answers were pretty simple: step-by-step guidance, free updates and a service that doesn't cost a fortune. The good news? If you're a LAW FOR ALL policyholder, you've already got that kind of support. Will drafting and unlimited updates are included in all LAW FOR ALL policies, with no obligation to appoint us as your executor. And if you're on Platinum+, our support goes further. When the time comes, we'll help your family through the legal process of winding up your estate, so they don't have to figure it all out on their own.

The legal support is already there. Now all that's left is a little will power to take action.