South African estate guides, by bank, region and insurer
Plain-English walk-throughs of the things South African families actually have to do after a death: closing the bank accounts, reporting the estate at the right Master's Office, claiming life insurance, registering the death with Home Affairs and dealing with SARS. Written for the South African Administration of Estates Act.
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Every guide on When I Am Gone is written by our editorial team and reviewed by a named subject expert before publication. We refresh articles when South African law or practice changes and date every page with both the publication date and the last review date.
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Bank account closure
How to close a Absa account after a death in South Africa
Step-by-step guide to notifying Absa of a death, freezing the deceased's accounts, lodging the required documents and unlocking funds for the estate. Includes Absa's deceased-estates contact details.
Read the guideHow to close a FNB account after a death in South Africa
Step-by-step guide to notifying FNB of a death, freezing the deceased's accounts, lodging the required documents and unlocking funds for the estate. Includes FNB's deceased-estates contact details.
Read the guideHow to close a Standard Bank account after a death in South Africa
Step-by-step guide to notifying Standard Bank of a death, freezing the deceased's accounts, lodging the required documents and unlocking funds for the estate. Includes Standard Bank's deceased-estates contact details.
Read the guideHow to close a Nedbank account after a death in South Africa
Step-by-step guide to notifying Nedbank of a death, freezing the deceased's accounts, lodging the required documents and unlocking funds for the estate. Includes Nedbank's deceased-estates contact details.
Read the guideHow to close a Capitec account after a death in South Africa
Step-by-step guide to notifying Capitec of a death, freezing the deceased's accounts, lodging the required documents and unlocking funds for the estate. Includes Capitec's deceased-estates contact details.
Read the guideHow to close a Investec account after a death in South Africa
Step-by-step guide to notifying Investec of a death, freezing the deceased's accounts, lodging the required documents and unlocking funds for the estate. Includes Investec's deceased-estates contact details.
Read the guideMaster's Office
Master of the High Court Cape Town (Western Cape): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Cape Town Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Pretoria (Gauteng): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Pretoria Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Johannesburg (Gauteng): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Johannesburg Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Durban (KwaZulu-Natal): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Durban Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Pietermaritzburg Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Bloemfontein (Free State): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Bloemfontein Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Makhanda (Eastern Cape): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Makhanda Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Mthatha (Eastern Cape): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Mthatha Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideMaster of the High Court Polokwane (Limpopo): how to report an estate
How to report a deceased estate at the Polokwane Master's Office, what to bring, how Letters of Executorship and Section 18(3) Letters of Authority are issued, and where to find the office.
Read the guideLife insurance claims
How to claim a Old Mutual life insurance payout in South Africa
What Old Mutual requires to assess a death claim, how nominated beneficiaries are paid outside the estate, and what falls into the estate. Includes Old Mutual's claims contact details.
Read the guideHow to claim a Sanlam life insurance payout in South Africa
What Sanlam requires to assess a death claim, how nominated beneficiaries are paid outside the estate, and what falls into the estate. Includes Sanlam's claims contact details.
Read the guideHow to claim a Liberty life insurance payout in South Africa
What Liberty requires to assess a death claim, how nominated beneficiaries are paid outside the estate, and what falls into the estate. Includes Liberty's claims contact details.
Read the guideHow to claim a Discovery life insurance payout in South Africa
What Discovery requires to assess a death claim, how nominated beneficiaries are paid outside the estate, and what falls into the estate. Includes Discovery's claims contact details.
Read the guideHow to claim a Momentum life insurance payout in South Africa
What Momentum requires to assess a death claim, how nominated beneficiaries are paid outside the estate, and what falls into the estate. Includes Momentum's claims contact details.
Read the guideExecutor checklists
Executor checklist: the first 7 days (South Africa)
What an executor (or family member acting before Letters are issued) should do in the week after a death in South Africa. Practical, plain-English checklist for South African executors and family members.
Read the guideExecutor checklist: the first 30 days (South Africa)
Reporting the estate to the Master of the High Court and starting the formal administration within the first month. Practical, plain-English checklist for South African executors and family members.
Read the guideExecutor checklist: the first six months (South Africa)
Section 29 advertisements, opening the estate late account, gathering valuations and preparing the Liquidation and Distribution Account. Practical, plain-English checklist for South African executors and family members.
Read the guideExecutor checklist: closing the estate (South Africa)
Section 35 advertisement, SARS clearance, distribution to heirs and the executor's filing slip from the Master. Practical, plain-English checklist for South African executors and family members.
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