Our Services

As the seller, you can instruct us directly to attend to the drafting of a Deed of Sale between yourself and the buyer — or we can receive instructions via the estate agent involved in the sale, to attend to the registration of the transfer of your property.

A property transfer can take up to 12 weeks to be finalised, depending on the transaction and on whether other transactions are linked to it. Throughout that time we keep you informed by way of our electronic weekly report system.

How the process runs

1. Instruction receivedDirectly from you as the seller, or via the estate agent handling the sale.
2. Deed of Sale draftedWe prepare or review the agreement between seller and buyer.
3. Documents signed & lodgedTransfer documents are signed, and the matter is lodged at the Deeds Office.
4. RegistrationTransfer is registered and the proceeds are paid out to you.

The bank instructs the attorney to attend to the registration of your bond. From there we arrange the drafting of the bond documents, schedule an appointment for the signing of those documents, and take you through an explanation of the bank's documents and the process to be followed.

What we attend to

• Registration of private bonds
• Registration of commercial bonds
• Cancellation of existing bonds
• Drafting of all bond documentation
• A full explanation of the bank's documents before you sign

Bond documents are dense and easy to sign without fully understanding. We would rather take the time to walk you through them.

Agreements we draft

• Sale Agreements — clear terms on price, conditions and transfer
• Lease Agreements — residential and commercial
• Selling of your business — structured to protect both parties
• Antenuptial Contracts — with or without accrual

Agreements drafted for your specific circumstances are far cheaper than the dispute a vague one creates.

Drafting of your Last Will

Let us assist you in the drafting of your Will, and we will make sure it is legal and complies with the Wills Act.

Administration of deceased estates

The administration process of a deceased estate after the passing of a loved one can be overwhelming. We assist families with the administration of deceased estates, ensuring the process is handled professionally, efficiently and in accordance with the law.

The deceased estate process includes:

• Reporting the estate to the Master of the High Court
• Gathering and administering all assets and liabilities
• Finalising and distributing the estate, and corresponding with the Master's offices
• Attending to deceased estate property transfers

We provide sensitive, practical support with divorce, maintenance, parenting arrangements and the division of assets. Where an agreement can be reached, we will help you reach it; where it cannot, we will represent you.

We also assist with parental rights and responsibilities and with protection orders, helping you make informed decisions while protecting your interests and those of your children.

What we assist with

• Divorce — contested and uncontested
• Maintenance — claims, variations and enforcement
• Parenting arrangements — care, contact and primary residence
• Division of assets — accrual, joint estates and settlement agreements
• Parental rights & responsibilities
• Protection orders — domestic violence and harassment

We help clients pursue compensation for injuries and losses arising from road accidents, medical negligence and other negligent conduct. Road Accident Fund claims in particular run to firm deadlines, so it is worth speaking to us early rather than late.

What we claim for

• Medical expenses — past and future treatment
• Loss of income — earnings lost through the injury
• Pain and suffering — where legally recoverable

We will tell you honestly what your claim is likely to be worth and roughly how long it is likely to take. Correspondence on third party claims goes to mva@smdlaw.co.za.

As a general practice serving Worcester and the Boland, we deal with a wide range of everyday legal matters for individuals, families and local businesses. A short conversation is usually enough for us to tell you whether you have a matter worth pursuing.

We act in civil disputes, business disputes and contractual claims, from the letter of demand through to trial. Whether your matter calls for negotiation, an urgent application or representation in court, we explain your options and guide you through each stage of the process.

Before you commit to litigation, we will give you a frank assessment of the merits, the likely cost and the realistic timeline — including whether litigation is the right route at all.

Pieter and Christo appear on behalf of clients in criminal matters. Whatever the charge, you are entitled to legal representation and to have the process explained to you in plain language.

Contact us as early as possible so that we can advise you on bail, on the charges and on what to expect at each stage.

We assist with evictions, unpaid rent, lease disputes and property occupation matters, across residential, commercial and farm properties. South African law sets out specific steps that must be followed before an occupier may be evicted, and attempting the process without legal assistance usually costs more time than it saves.

We advise on the relevant legal requirements and court procedures — including the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE) and the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) — and we attend to the notices, the application and the court appearance on your behalf.

Matters we handle

• Evictions — residential, commercial and farm property
• Unpaid rent — arrear rental and recovery
• Lease disputes — breach, cancellation and holding over
• Property occupation — unlawful occupier matters
• PIE and ESTA applications

Our Debt Collections department assists individuals and businesses to recover outstanding debts, including unpaid rent and business accounts.

How recovery usually runs

1. Letter of demandFormal notice of what is owed, and by when.
2. Repayment arrangementWhere the debtor can pay, but not all at once.
3. Summons & judgmentCourt proceedings are issued and judgment obtained.
4. EnforcementThe judgment is enforced through the sheriff.

Not every debt is worth chasing to court. We advise on practical recovery options suited to your circumstances, including whether the amount at stake justifies the cost of pursuing it. Debt collections correspondence goes to attorneys@smdlaw.co.za.

We advise employers and employees on employment contracts, workplace policies, disciplinary proceedings and employment disputes.

We also assist with unfair dismissal, retrenchments and settlement negotiations, providing clear guidance on workplace rights and responsibilities.

What we advise on

• Employment contracts — and workplace policies
• Disciplinary proceedings — process and hearings
• Unfair dismissal — disputes and referrals
• Retrenchments — consultation and restructuring
• Settlement negotiations

We provide local representation and procedural support to other law firms, including court appearances, issuing and filing documents, arranging service, and liaising with court officials and sheriffs.

What we attend to

• Court appearances — on your behalf, in the Worcester courts
• Issuing and filing — of process and documents
• Service — arranged through the sheriff
• Liaison — with court officials and sheriffs

We keep instructing attorneys informed through timely updates and clear communication, so that you are never the last to know what happened at court.