What happens after a death

Every estate goes through the same steps. The law sets some of the times. The Master's office sets the rest, and it is slow.

The steps

  1. The death is reported to the Master. Within 14 days, by whoever has the will or is nearest to the person. The office is the one for the district where the person lived in their last year. How to report a death.
  2. The Master appoints someone to wind up the estate. For an estate worth more than R250,000 that person is the executor, who receives letters of executorship. For a smaller estate the Master issues letters of authority to a Master's representative, and steps 3 and 5 are usually skipped.
  3. The estate opened notice appears. The executor publishes it in the Government Gazette and a local newspaper. Creditors have 30 days to lodge claims. What the notice means.
  4. The executor gathers and pays. Bank balances are moved into an estate late account. Debts, tax and the executor's fee are worked out. The account is drawn up and sent to the Master, who examines it and may send back queries.
  5. The payout plan ready notice appears. The account lies open for 21 days for anyone to read and object to. What the notice means.
  6. The heirs are paid. The executor pays out in the order the account shows, sends the Master proof, and the Master closes the file.

How long it takes

The law expects the account within six months of the executor's appointment, and the Master often grants more time. A simple estate at a quick office can be finished in eight months.

Most take longer. A year is common. Two years is not unusual when the Master's office is behind, when property must be sold, or when heirs cannot be found. Reports in 2024 and 2025 described estates taking more than two years at the busiest offices.

Nothing on this site shows how far an estate has got beyond the two notices. The executor knows; the Master's office has the file.

What does not go through the estate

A life policy with a named beneficiary is paid to that person directly. A pension or provident fund death benefit is paid by the fund's trustees, who may take up to a year to decide. Neither waits for the estate.

Where this leaves you

Last checked 20 September 2026. The law behind these pages is the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965.