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Deceased Estates Guide

Lesley-Anne Tromp - Appraiser

The Complete Deceased Estate Guide

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the master’s office has been closed for most of 2020, with sporadic opening and shutting of the department in 2021. Unfortunately, it is outside of our control, we need to work around some of these obstacles, with proper knowledge and a structured application, any deceased estate can be settled with the least amount of difficulty. Here is a guide explaining what is a deceased estate, how it must be reported, and how to go about winding up an estate.

Beginning of a Deceased Estate

A deceased estate comes into existence when a person dies. At death the estate of the deceased is frozen, (If the deceased was married in a community of property, the joint estate is frozen) and no one may withdraw funds from the deceased’s bank accounts or deal with any of the estate assets without the necessary permission from the Master of the High Court.

A person dies either Testate (With a valid Will) or intestate (Without a valid Will). An estate must be administered and distributed either in terms of the Will or the Intestate Succession Act, 81 of 1987.

Where must a Deceased Estate be reported?

If the death is in the Republic of South Africa

Where the deceased was living in the Republic of South Africa, the estate must be reported to the Master of the High Court in the area of jurisdiction the deceased was living 12 months prior to his/her death. For example, if a deceased resided in Cape Town for 12 months prior to His or Her death then the late estate is to be reported to the Master of the High Court in Cape Town.

If the death is outside the Republic of South Africa

Where the deceased was not living in the Republic of South Africa at the time of his/her death, the estate may be reported to any Master of the High Court, provided it is reported to only one Master of the High Court.

How to Report a Deceased Estate

The estate of a deceased person must be preferably reported to the Master of the High Court within 14 days of the date of death. The death is to be reported by any person having control or possession of any property or documents that is or intends to be a will of the deceased.

The estate is reported by lodging an affidavit, accompanied by reporting documents discussed in detail herein, and is stated that the “letters of executorships” or “letters of authority” have not already been granted by any other Master of the High Court in the Republic of South Africa.

Deceased Estates Administration

The procedure which must be followed to administer a deceased estate is prescribed by the Administration of Estates Act, 66 of 1965 (as amended).

Notice of Estate and Appointment of the Executor

To appoint an executor of an estate, the Master of the High Court must be notified of the death through the prescribed documentation. The Master then examines the documents and once satisfied with the validity of the Will; the Master appoints the executor by issuing a “letter of executorship” or “letter of authority”.

The Reporting Documents

The reporting documents differ slightly depending on the value of the estate and the type of appointment required.

Estate Value Below R250 000

If the value of the estate exceeds R250 000, “letters of executorship” must be issued and the full process prescribed by the Act must be followed.

However, if the value of the estate is less than R250 000, the Master of the High Court may dispense with letters of executorship and issue “letters of authority” in terms of section 18(3) wherein the full procedure as set out in the Act need not be followed.

Estate Value Above R250 000

Documents Required:

  • Completed J94 Death Notice.

  • Original or certified copy of the Death Certificate.

  • Original or certified copy of Marriage Certificate (if applicable) or acceptable proof of marriage, as requested by the Master. Marriage certificate/proof of registration of a customary marriage/ minutes of a family meeting where proof of registration of a customary marriage cannot be furnished /proof of religious marriage (Muslim or Hindu)/declaration confirming the existence of a same-sex life partnership (if applicable).

  • A declaration of Marriage by the surviving spouse indicating how the deceased was married.

  • All original wills and codicils or documents purporting to be such (if any).

  • Completed J192 Next-of-Kin Affidavit (if the deceased did not leave a valid will).

  • Completed J243 Inventory form showing all the deceased’s assets.

  • Nominations by the heirs for the appointment of an executor in the case of an intestate estate, or where no executor has been nominated in the will, or the nominated executor has died or declined the appointment.

  • Completed J190 Acceptance of Trust as Executor forms in duplicate by the person(s) nominated as executor(s) plus a certified copy of the photo page of the executor’s ID document.

  • J262 Undertaking and bond of security (unless the nominated executor has been exempted from providing security in the will, or is the parent, spouse, or child of the deceased).

  • If the deceased passed away before 2007: Affidavit by the next-of-kin of a deceased person who has died without leaving a valid will, to the effect that the estate has not already been reported to another Master or service point (if applicable).

  • Appraiser Valuations on Immovable and moveable property.

  • SARS REV 246 Form with Immoveable Valuation, signed by the Appraiser.

Estate Value Below R250 000

Documents Required:

  • Completed J294 Death Notice.

  • Original or certified copy of the Death Certificate.

  • Original or certified copy of Marriage Certificate (if applicable) or acceptable proof of marriage, as requested by the Master. Marriage certificate/proof of registration of a customary marriage/ minutes of a family meeting where proof of registration of a customary marriage cannot be furnished /proof of religious marriage (Muslim or Hindu)/declaration confirming the existence of a same-sex life partnership (if applicable).

  • A Declaration of subsisting marriages.

  • All original wills and codicils or documents purporting to be such (if any).

  • Completed J192 Next-of-Kin Affidavit (if the deceased did not leave a will).

  • Completed J243 Inventory showing all the assets of the deceased.

  • List of creditors of deceased (if applicable).

  • Nominations by the heirs for the appointment of a Master’s representative in the case of an intestate estate or where no executor.

  • has been nominated in the will or the nominated executor declines the appointment.

  • If the deceased passed away before 2007: Declaration confirming that the estate has not already been reported to another Master’s office or Service Point of the Master.

  • J155 Acceptance of Master’s Directions completed and signed by the person as nominated above.

  • Certified copy of the ID of the person to be appointed as Master’s representative.

This process can be overwhelming for the families of the deceased, we can help you from the start and walk you through to the finish.

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