The first step is to obtain an original death certificate for the deceased. This is provided by the Department of Home Affairs, however, you will probably also get the death certificate from a funeral home, if you are utilising their services.  The next step is to find out if the deceased had a will. It is important that the original is be located. These are two of the most important documents needed when reporting the estate. Click here for a full list of documents needed to report the estate.

Reporting an estate involves formally notifying the Master of the High Court of the death. This begins the legal process of administering the estate and ensures that assets are distributed correctly according to the will or the law. When reporting an estate, various reporting documents need to be completed and signed. This is usually attended to by the executor, and if the deceased left a will, they will, hopefully, have nominated someone to act as such in the will.

An executor is the person formally appointed to administer the deceased estate. Their role is to collect assets, settle debts, and distribute the remaining assets to beneficiaries in accordance with the will or applicable law.

If there is a valid will, the executor is usually nominated in the will. The Master of the High Court then formally appoints the executor by issuing Letters of Executorship (or Letters of Authority for smaller estates) in their favour.

If the deceased did not leave a will, the estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act. This means that close family members—such as spouses, children, or parents—inherit in a prescribed order and according to the Act. A family member may be nominated, which nomination needs to be confirmed by the remaining interested family members, to act as the executor.

The administration process can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on the complexity of the estate, outstanding debts, and whether there are disputes or delays. Further, because numerous third parties are involved in the process such as banks, insurance companies, SARS, etc., delays can also often come from waiting for these third party organisations to finalise processes on their side.

Costs typically include executor’s fees, Master’s fees, conveyancing costs (if property is involved), and other administrative expenses. Executor’s fees in South Africa are regulated and generally capped at 3.5% of the gross estate value (excluding VAT).

All administration costs are paid from the estate itself before any distributions are made to beneficiaries. In other words, unless disbursements are made, no payments need to be made upfront, as these costs are paid on conclusion of the winding up of the deceased estate.

In limited circumstances, interim payments may be made, but generally beneficiaries receive their inheritance only once the estate has been finalised and approved by the Master.

We understand that administration of an estate can be complex and emotionally taxing, especially while you are grieving the loss of your loved one. As the executor, you have the power to appoint our firm as your agent to attend to the administration of the estate on your behalf. We provide professional, compassionate guidance to ensure the process is handled smoothly and efficiently and most importantly, as quickly as possible, while remaining available at all times to assist with queries and concerns along the way.