South Africa · Pretoria · Thohoyandou
Flagship practice 01
We guide executors, heirs and beneficiaries through every stage of winding up an estate, from reporting it to the Master of the High Court to the final distribution.
Losing someone is hard enough. The paperwork that follows should not add to the weight.
Estate administration is exacting work: statutory forms, strict time limits, the Master's requirements, creditors, SARS, and families who deserve clear answers. Our Deceased Estates department is led by an attorney with three decades of post-admission practice, and one attorney stays accountable to you from the first meeting to the final account.
We also help you plan ahead: wills and testaments, trusts and pre-death estate structuring so that your own estate passes efficiently and in line with your wishes.
What we do
Reporting the estate to the Master of the High Court with the required forms and supporting documents.
Appointment of executors, and practical support to executors in carrying out their duties.
Drafting and lodging the Liquidation & Distribution account, and seeing it through inspection.
Drafting, reviewing and safekeeping wills so your wishes are clear and valid.
Advice and administration where the deceased left no valid will.
Resolving disputes between heirs, and dealing with creditor claims against the estate.
Establishing, administering and winding up trusts.
Notarial execution of estate-related documents by our resident Notary Public.
Structuring before death for tax efficiency and a smooth succession.
The process
Timelines depend on the size of the estate, the Master's office and any disputes. We tell you what to expect at each stage.
The death is reported to the Master with the death notice, will and inventory.
The Master appoints the executor, who can then act for the estate.
Creditors are called for by notice, accounts opened and assets secured and valued.
The account is lodged with the Master and lies open for inspection.
Once the account is accepted, heirs are paid and assets transferred.
Your attorney
Senior Associate · Deceased Estates, Personal Injury & Family Law
Petronella leads the firm's Deceased Estates department and is the first point of contact for executors, heirs and beneficiaries. With 30 years of post-admission practice, her clients benefit from deep procedural knowledge and long experience of the Master's office.
Full profileQuestions
An estate must be reported to the Master of the High Court within 14 days of the date of death. We can take this over from the family at the first meeting.
The estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987, which sets out who inherits and in what shares. We advise on how the Act applies to your family and administer the estate on that basis.
No. Smaller estates may qualify for a simplified procedure under letters of authority, while larger estates need letters of executorship and a full Liquidation & Distribution account. We confirm which applies at the outset.
A straightforward estate usually takes several months to a year. Disputes, SARS matters, property transfers or delays at the Master's office can extend that. You receive progress-linked updates and invoices as milestones are reached.
We give you a written fee estimate at the start of the matter, and ask for your confirmation before work begins. There are no surprises at the end.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Speak to an attorney about your circumstances.
Deceased Estates
