In South Africa, a conveyancer plays a crucial role in the property transfer process.

The primary responsibilities of a Conveyancer entail:  

1. Legal Oversight: Ensuring all legal requirements are met, from contracting stage up to registration in the Deeds Office.  
   
   
2. Document Preparation: Drafting and preparing all necessary legal documents in the transfer process.  
   
   
3. Title Deeds: Handling the change in ownership, ensuring the transfer from Seller to Buyer is properly recorded with the Deeds Office.  
   
   
4. Liaison: Acting as an intermediary between the Seller, Buyer, Banks, Property Practitioners and other relevant parties.  
   
   
5. Financial Management: Managing all financial transactions related to the sale, including the handling of deposits and payments on registration.
   
   
6. Clearances: Obtaining the prescribed clearances, such as municipal rates and taxes, transfer duty, sectional title / homeowners’ association levies (if applicable) to ensure compliance with statutory obligations.  
   
   
7. Advice: Providing legal advice and guidance to clients throughout the property transaction process.  
   
   

In essence, a conveyancer ensures that property transactions are legally sound and smoothly executed from start to finish.  

On average it takes between 6 – 8 weeks for registration to take place in the Deeds Office, reconned from the time when all sale conditions are met and finances are in place.   Several factors could however influence the timeline for example unforeseen delays in the processing of clearance certificates, hold ups in meeting requirements posed by financial institutions, Deeds Office backlogs, disputes and unresolved legal issues.  Effective communication between all parties (Conveyancer, Seller, Buyer, Banks, Government departments) can streamline the process and avoid disappointment.    

Should you die without a valid Last Will and Testament, your assets will be distributed in terms of the Intestate Succession Act, Act No. 81 of 1987.  This means that your heirs, the persons entitled to inherit, will be determined by statute which might not align with  your wishes.  A will allows you to specify what should happen to your assets, who should act as Executor to administer your estate and nominate a guardian for your minor children.   

Planning on getting married with an Antenuptial Contract?  Do you need to certify / authenticate documents for use in another country?  Do you require security in the form of a bond over movable property?  Do you want to renounce your inheritance?  If so, you  require the assistance of a Notary.  Using a Notary ensures that certain documents and transactions meet legal standards and are recognised as valid and binding both domestically and internationally.

First time home owners can access various forms of assistance to make the process of buying/renting their first home easier and more affordable.  Some resources include pre-approvals from financial institutions (which entails beneficial interest rates, reduced fees and flexible repayment terms), social housing programmes, provincial/local government programmes/schemes for instance:

• Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme;
• Integrated Residential Development Programme;
• Enhanced Extended Discount Benefit Scheme; and
• Non-Finance Linked Subsidy Scheme.