Prof JAPIE COETZEE was born in the Free State.
In 1977 he
obtained a B PROC degree at the University of the Orange Free State. During
his last two study years (which he did part time) he also completed his
articles of clerkship at Webber & Newdigate Attorneys in Bloemfontein. In
April 1978 he was admitted as an Attorney, Notary and Conveyancer in the
Orange Free State division of the High Court of South Africa.
Since 1990 he specialises in Estate Planning and Tax Law. He regularly
advises clients and their financial advisors and auditors on various matters
regarding estate planning, many of which also include tax matters. Because
of his doctoral research, he often advises on aspects regarding trusts, and
the consequences of inadequate trusts and how these could be avoided.
He is a part time farmer, and his farming experience is useful when having
to advise farmers on estate planning and more specifically regarding follow
up planning of their farming activities.
He is currently in charge of an established conveyancing and estate practice
in Parys, under the name of Coetzees Incorporated.
In 1996 he obtained a Diploma in Tax Practice at the Rand Afrikaans
University (Dip Tax Prac), a diploma presented in association with the Law
Society of South Africa.
In 2001 he obtained a LLM degree cum laude at the University of South
Africa, specialising in Tax Law (specifically including Tax Planning.)
In 2005 he was appointed as a guest lecturer at the North West University (Potchefstroom
campus), part time lecturing Estate Planning to Masters Students in Estate
Law. Since 2007 he was appointed extra-ordinary Professor at the same
university where he is still lecturing part time.
In 2006 he obtained a LLD degree at the University of South Africa. His
research covered a critical investigation into the nature and content of the
rights of beneficiaries of trusts in terms of the South African Law. In his
research he attempted to compare these aspects internationally. With this
in mind, he visited the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen in Scotland,
early in 2004.
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