Death Notification
- Obtain death certificate
- Notify financial institutions
- Secure deceased's assets
Honouring Legacies, Protecting Beneficiaries
Deceased Estate Administration & Estate Planning
The administration of a deceased estate requires meticulous attention to legal requirements, tax compliance, and beneficiary interests. Reddy Inc. provides comprehensive estate administration services, guiding executors and beneficiaries through the complex process with professionalism, efficiency, and compassion.
Deceased Estate Administration
Professional Executor & Estate Administration Services
When a loved one passes away, their estate must be wound up according to law. This involves reporting the estate to the Master of the High Court, valuing assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing assets to beneficiaries.
Our estate administration team acts as nominated executors or assists appointed executors, ensuring estates are administered efficiently, compliantly, and in the best interests of all beneficiaries.
Estate Administration Services
- Executor Appointments — Applying to the Master for Letters of Executorship
- Estate Reporting — Preparing and lodging estate accounts with the Master
- Asset Valuation — Engaging valuators and preparing liquidation and distribution accounts
- Debt Settlement — Identifying, verifying, and paying estate debts
- Estate Duty — Calculating and paying estate duty to SARS
- Beneficiary Distribution — Ensuring lawful distribution according to will or intestacy
- Estate Disputes — Resolving disputes between beneficiaries or with creditors
The Estate Administration Process
What to Expect When Administering an Estate
Estate administration follows a structured legal process overseen by the Master of the High Court. Understanding each stage helps executors and beneficiaries know what to expect.
Will Location
- Search for original will
- Determine testamentary wishes
- Identify beneficiaries
Executor Appointment
- Apply to Master for Letters of Executorship
- Nominated executor accepts appointment
- Advertise appointment
Asset & Debt Identification
- Identify all estate assets
- Compile list of creditors
- Obtain valuations
Liquidation Account
- Prepare liquidation and distribution account
- Submit to Master for approval
- Advertise for inspection
Debt Payment
- Verify and settle legitimate debts
- Pay funeral expenses
- Settle estate duty with SARS
Objection Period
- 21-day inspection period
- Address any objections raised
- Obtain Master's approval
Distribution
- Transfer assets to beneficiaries
- Property transfers
- Cash distributions
Estate Closure
- Final accounting to Master
- Estate file closure
- Distribution certificates issued
Estate Planning
Protect Your Legacy with Proper Estate Planning
Estate planning isn’t just about drafting a will—it’s about ensuring your assets are protected during your lifetime and distributed according to your wishes after death, whilst minimising tax and legal complications for your loved ones.
We provide comprehensive estate planning advice, helping you structure your affairs to achieve your objectives whilst reducing estate duty, protecting assets, and providing for your dependants.
Estate Planning Services
- Will Drafting — Preparing clear, legally sound wills tailored to your circumstances
- Trust Establishment — Setting up testamentary and inter vivos trusts
- Estate Duty Planning — Strategies to minimise estate duty liability
- Asset Protection — Structuring assets to protect from creditors and claims
- Beneficiary Nominations — Ensuring retirement funds and life policies are properly nominated
- Incapacity Planning — Powers of attorney and living wills
Estate Planning Considerations
Key Elements of Effective Estate Planning
Comprehensive estate planning addresses multiple aspects of your financial and personal affairs, ensuring your wishes are honoured and your loved ones protected.
Valid Will
- Clear expression of testamentary wishes
- Appointment of executor
- Guardian nominations for minor children
Asset Protection
- Protecting assets from creditors
- Insolvency planning considerations
- Marital property regime implications
Beneficiary Provisions
- Providing for spouse and dependants
- Special needs planning
- Minor beneficiary trusts
Tax Efficiency
- Minimising estate duty liability
- Capital gains tax planning
- Donations tax considerations
Life Insurance
- Adequate cover for dependants
- Correct beneficiary nominations
- Policy ownership structures
Regular Reviews
- Updating will as circumstances change
- Reviewing beneficiary nominations
- Adjusting for legislative changes
Estate Administration Questions
What Executors & Beneficiaries Ask Us
Understanding estate administration helps you fulfil your duties as executor or protect your interests as beneficiary.
Timeframes vary considerably depending on estate complexity, whether the estate is solvent, and whether disputes arise. Simple estates can be finalised within 6-12 months, whilst complex estates with property transfers, business interests, or disputes may take 18-36 months or longer. The Master’s workload and processing times also affect duration.
They die “intestate” and their estate is distributed according to the Intestate Succession Act. This provides a statutory formula for distribution based on family relationships. The Master appoints an executor (often a family member or professional), and the estate is administered similarly to testate estates, but distributed according to the Act rather than the deceased’s expressed wishes.
Estate duty is a tax on the deceased’s estate, currently charged at 20% on the dutiable amount up to R30 million, and 25% on amounts above that. Every estate has an abatement (currently R3.5 million), meaning many smaller estates pay no estate duty. The estate itself pays estate duty before distributing to beneficiaries—it’s not a tax on beneficiaries.
Possibly, but grounds for challenging a will are limited. You can challenge if you believe the will is invalid (e.g., due to lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, or forgery) or if you’re a surviving spouse, child, or dependant who wasn’t adequately provided for, in which case you may lodge a claim under the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act. Simply disagreeing with the deceased’s choices is not grounds to challenge a valid will.
Executors must collect and safeguard estate assets, pay debts and estate duty, prepare accounts for the Master, and distribute assets to beneficiaries. They have a fiduciary duty to act in the estate and beneficiaries’ best interests, must avoid conflicts of interest, keep accurate records, and can be held personally liable for losses caused by negligence or breach of duty.
No. Some assets fall outside the deceased estate and transfer directly to beneficiaries, including retirement fund benefits (paid per fund rules), life insurance policies with nominated beneficiaries, and property in living trusts. However, these may still be included in the dutiable estate for estate duty calculation purposes.
Professional Estate Administration
Protect Your Legacy with Proper Estate Planning
Estate planning isn’t just about drafting a will—it’s about ensuring your assets are protected during your lifetime and distributed according to your wishes after death, whilst minimising tax and legal complications for your loved ones.
We provide comprehensive estate planning advice, helping you structure your affairs to achieve your objectives whilst reducing estate duty, protecting assets, and providing for your dependants.
- Experienced estate administration attorneys acting as executors or advising appointed executors
- Efficient, compliant administration minimising delays and complications
- Clear communication with beneficiaries throughout the process
- Comprehensive estate planning to protect your legacy and loved ones
- Assistance resolving estate disputes and beneficiary conflicts
Related Legal Services
Comprehensive Legal Solutions
From commercial transactions to courtroom litigation, estate planning to regulatory compliance, Reddy Inc. offers integrated legal services across multiple disciplines. Discover how our expertise can support your broader legal needs.
Commercial Law Services
Contract drafting, business disputes & compliance. Expert representation for SMEs and corporations across South Africa.
Insurance Law Specialists
Short & long-term insurance claims. Policy disputes, insurer representation. Resolving insurance matters efficiently.Third Party Claims
Motor vehicle accidents, RAF claims & liability disputes. Recover damages, medical costs & loss of income. Expert advocacy.Administrative Law Services
Judicial review, PAJA applications & constitutional litigation. Challenging unlawful government decisions across SA.
Labour Law Experts
CCMA representation, unfair dismissals, employment contracts. Protecting employers and employees in workplace disputes.Insolvency Services
Liquidations, sequestrations & business rescue. Creditor and debtor representation. Navigating financial distress strategically.
Debt Collection Services
Efficient debt recovery, foreclosures & asset-based recoveries. From demand letters to judgment enforcement nationwide.
Compliance Services
POPI Act compliance, industry regulations & corporate governance. Navigate South Africa's regulatory environment confidently.Family Law Specialists
Divorce, child custody, maintenance & parental rights. Compassionate yet strategic representation for family matters.Civil Litigation Services
High Court & Magistrates Court representation. Commercial disputes, contract claims & civil matters across South Africa.General Litigation
Comprehensive litigation across all dispute types. Experienced court representation in commercial, civil & contractual matters.
