Attorneys taking part in a Law Society of SA initiative will draw up basic wills for members of the public free of charge next week, the society says.

It said the aim of National Wills Week was to highlight the importance of having a valid will.

The initiative was also meant to encourage members of the public who would not normally make use of an attorney, to consult one.

The free service, from September 6 to 10, would not include changing existing wills.

The society said wills were often invalid because the person who drafted it did not have the knowledge to ensure that the requirements of the law were met.

A death without a valid will could lead to unhappiness among surviving family members and unnecessary costs, and could delay the winding-up of the estate.

Details of attorneys taking part in the initiative could be found on society website www.LSSA.org.za or by calling the law societies of individual provinces:

• Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North-West: 012-338-5800
• Cape provinces: 021-443-6700
• Free State: 051-447-3237
• KwaZulu-Natal: 033-345-1304