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Estate Administration
Three steps to peace: Compassionate estate administration, handled for you
- Are you feeling...?
From administrative overwhelm to absolute peace of mind.
- Overwhelmed by SARS and Master’s Office requirements?
- Confused by incomplete documentation or family conflict?
- Worried about protecting your children’s inheritance?
- Overwhelmed by SARS and Master’s Office requirements?
- Confused by incomplete documentation or family conflict?
- Worried about protecting your children’s inheritance?
- Proven Experience in Estate Administration
Losing a loved one is hard enough without the shock of an unresolved estate, frozen joint assets, or the stress of securing your children’s future. At Excall Legacy, we step into the complexity so you don’t have to face the legal burden alone.
Losing a loved one is hard enough without the shock of an unresolved estate, frozen joint assets, or the stress of securing your children’s future. At Excall Legacy, we step into the complexity so you don’t have to face the legal burden alone.
Clarity
A clear roadmap through the legal fog.
Protection
Safeguarding assets and minor interests.
Space
The freedom to grieve while we handle the 'hassle.'
- What are the benefits of using Excall for estate administration?
At Excall Legacy, we believe estate administration is personal. As a boutique consultancy, we intentionally limit our caseload to ensure your family receives our undivided attention and expert care.
We handle the entire legal and administrative burden, from the Master’s Office to SARS, allowing you the space to focus on your family.
Our approach combines meticulous detail with proactive communication, ensuring your loved one’s legacy is settled with the dignity and efficiency it deserves.
Personalised Attention:
As a boutique consultancy, we intentionally limit our caseload so your family receives our full, undivided focus.
Total Burden Relief:
We handle the complex legalities, SARS liaisons, and Master’s Office requirements so you can focus on grieving and healing.
End-to-End Management:
From obtaining Letters of Executorship to the final distribution, we navigate the entire administrative journey for you.
Proactive Communication:
We provide structure and clarity at every turn, ensuring you are never left wondering about the status of your loved one’s estate.
A Legacy-First Approach:
We treat every estate not as a file, but as a life, combining meticulous detail with genuine South African compassion.
- PROCESS AND TIMEFRAMES
Estate Administration
- Report Estate to the Master of The High Court
- Receive Letter of Executor/Authority (1-6 weeks)
- Open Estate Late bank Account. (1-2 weeks)
- Collect all assets of the deceased (1- 6 weeks)
- Section 29 Notice to creditors and debtors (30 days)
- Pay all liabilities
- Report Estate to SARS. (Deceased Estate Clearance)
- Draft and submit the Liquidation and distribution account.
- Await the query sheet from the master (1-6 weeks)
- Delivery, Liquidation, and distribution account + Rev267 to the applicable Magistrate court to lay for inspection (21 days)
- Place section 35 Notice account is lying for inspection (21 days)
- Obtain the ME 31 / Master's approval to pay beneficiaries.
- Pay Beneficiaries
- Close Estate late bank account
- Request filing slip from the Master upon finalising the estate.
- Your Estate, Our Guidance
Three steps to peace of mind
Understand
Listen, gather documents, explain the process clearly.
01
Manage
Handle all legal, financial, and administrative tasks.
02
Finalise
Distribute assets, provide updates, support families.
03
- FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of estate administration?
The executor’s fee is regulated by law and is up to 3.5% of the gross value of the estate, plus VAT (if applicable). In addition, an executor may charge 6% on income earned after date of death (e.g. rental or interest).
I don’t want anything from the estate. What can I do?
You are allowed to renounce your inheritance. However, you cannot renounce only part of your inheritance. If you renounce, it applies to your full inheritance.
My mother/father’s will is false or incorrect. What now?
The Master of the High Court considers a will based on its formal validity, not its content.
If the will complies with the Wills Act, it is accepted as a valid will.
If you want to challenge the validity or content of a will, this can only be done through the High Court.
Can I leave my house to more than one person?
Yes. You may leave property to more than one beneficiary, either in equal or unequal shares. This will result in co-ownership unless otherwise specified in the will. Must a will have be in writing? Yes, a valid will must:
- Be in writing (or typed)
- Be signed by the testator/testatrix on each page (NOT ELECTRONICALLY)
- Be witnessed by two competent witnesses present at the same time
What happens to my children’s inheritance if they are minors when I die?
If you have minor children, it is very important to include a testamentary trust clause in your will.
A testamentary trust:
- Holds the inheritance for your children
- Is managed by trustees you appoint
- Pays for education, maintenance, and care
- Ends when children reach the age you choose
If no testamentary trust is included, the inheritance is paid into the Guardian’s Fund, which is managed by the government.
How long does estate administration take?
On average, estates take 6–18 months, depending on:
- Complexity of the estate
- Availability of documents
- SARS and Master’s Office processes
What information do you need the client to provide to set up the first meeting?
- Original Will
- Death Certificate
- Id of the deceased
- List of all assets of the deceased
- Id of all beneficiaries
- Address of deceased and beneficiaries