New research from Capital Legacy reveals the financial and emotional toll on South African families long after the funeral, highlighting the urgent need for better estate preparedness.
For many South African families, the financial and emotional consequences of a death continue long after the funeral, as relatives face cash shortages, estate delays, paperwork, and disputes while still grieving.
New research into what happens to households after a loved one dies found that more than half of respondents experienced financial pressure, while 60% reported emotional strain that affected their daily lives and 42% experienced conflict or feuds within the family.
The findings form part of Capital Legacy’s inaugural Estate Readiness Index, released this week, which gave South Africans an overall readiness score of 50 out of 100.
The index measures personal preparedness, the impact of death on the household as well as the difficulties families encounter during estate administration.
