South African Startup Wills & Trust Raises Angel Funding for AI Estate Planning

South African LegalTech startup Wills & Trust has closed an angel investment round to develop and launch an AI-powered platform aimed at making will drafting and estate planning more accessible to individuals and families.

The investment round closed on 1 October 2026, although the company has not disclosed the amount raised or the identity of the investor. The funding was announced on 11 November by African-Startups.

Founded by Muhammad Khan and based in KwaZulu-Natal, Wills & Trust is developing technology that uses artificial intelligence to guide users through estate planning in plain language. The platform is designed to collect information about a person's family, assets and wishes before directing them towards the appropriate estate-planning services.

The company is entering a market where a large proportion of South Africans have yet to prepare a will. According to the 2025 Sanlam Legacy Wills Survey, only 34% of South African adults have a will, down from 39% in the previous year's survey.

Using AI to Simplify Estate Planning

Wills & Trust's platform is intended to make the initial process less complicated by allowing users to answer questions about their circumstances rather than navigate unfamiliar legal terminology.

Its planned services cover conventional wills, family trusts, deceased estate administration, Shari'ah-compliant wills, business succession planning and digital assets, including cryptocurrency.

The company's operating model also involves connecting users with independent professional advisers who handle the actual drafting and specialised estate-planning work. Its website identifies Capital Legacy among the service providers that may receive referrals.

Wills & Trust says its business earns revenue through marketing and introductions to partner advisers rather than charging users upfront for will drafting. Customers can choose whether to take up additional services offered by those providers.

Legal Requirements Remain Important

Although AI can simplify the preparation process, an electronically generated document does not automatically become a legally valid will.

Under South Africa's Wills Act, a will generally needs to be in writing, signed by the testator on every page and witnessed by two competent witnesses. Users must therefore complete the required signing and witnessing process after preparing their documents online.

The distinction is important because mistakes in estate planning can affect how assets are distributed, the appointment of guardians for minor children and arrangements for family businesses.

Wills & Trust says the angel investment will help bring its product to market. The company plans to provide further details about the platform's availability and pricing in the coming weeks.