Question 1

What is the difference between Letters of Executorship and Letters of Authority in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

If the gross value of the deceased estate exceeds R250,000, the Master of the High Court issues Letters of Executorship. This gives the named executor legal authority to administer the estate. If the gross value is R250,000 or less, the Master issues Letters of Authority instead — a simpler process known as a Section 18(3) estate under the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965. EstateHelp can advise which route applies to your estate during the free intake call.

Question 2

How long does estate administration take in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

South African estate administration typically takes between 12 and 36 months from date of death to Master's discharge. The process has six phases: immediate actions (days 1–14), marriage regime confirmation (days 1–30), obtaining Letters of Executorship from the Master (weeks 2–12), notifying banks and financial institutions (months 2–6), transferring and distributing assets (months 3–18), and SARS tax clearance and closure (months 6–36). Complex estates with disputed wills, business interests, or foreign assets take longer.

Question 3

What does an executor's agent actually do?

Accepted Answer

Under the Administration of Estates Act, the appointed executor may delegate administrative work to an agent under a written Power of Attorney. The agent does not replace the executor — they handle the coordination, documentation, institutional correspondence, deadline tracking, and professional engagement on the executor's behalf. Sanelisiwe Lokwe, co-founder and operator of EstateHelp, acts in this capacity. Every mandate is governed by a signed engagement letter.

Question 4

How much does EstateHelp cost compared to using an attorney as executor?

Accepted Answer

The default executor fee in South Africa is 3.5% of the gross estate value plus 6% of income accrued, under Section 51(1) of the Administration of Estates Act. On a R2 million estate that is R70,000 — before VAT, before the attorney's disbursements, and before the Master's fee. EstateHelp's fixed mandate fee is R20,000–R25,000. This is not an executor fee — EstateHelp acts as executor's agent. The executor (usually a family member or the nominated executor in the will) retains legal authority.

Question 5

Do I need an attorney to administer a deceased estate in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. The Administration of Estates Act does not require an attorney to administer an estate. If a family member is nominated as executor, they can appoint an agent under Power of Attorney to handle the administration. Legal matters that arise during the process — will validity assessment, tax advice, estate duty optimisation, court papers, or asset distribution disputes — are referred to an attorney partner. EstateHelp handles the coordination and administration, not the legal work.

Question 6

What is the first thing to do when someone dies in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

The first legal obligation is to notify the Department of Home Affairs and obtain the death certificate — often facilitated by the funeral undertaker. The estate must then be reported to the Master of the High Court within 14 days of the death under Section 13(1) of the Administration of Estates Act. Critically, Section 13(1) also provides a right to access funds for immediate expenses that most banks do not proactively disclose — EstateHelp surfaces this right at the intake call.

Question 7

Is EstateHelp available now?

Accepted Answer

EstateHelp is currently in development with intake calls opening to the first registrants. Register your interest through the contact form on this page to be notified when intake calls open. A free 30-minute intake call is the first step — Sanelisiwe will assess the estate and recommend the right route (DIY, appointed agent, or attorney referral).

Phase	Name	Duration	Key milestone
1	Immediate	Days 1–14	Death certificate. Section 13(1) bank release surfaced proactively.
2	Marriage Regime	Days 1–30	Marriage regime confirmed. Accrual calculation completed if applicable.
3	Master of the High Court	Weeks 2–12	Letters of Executorship issued.
4	Banks & Financial Assets	Months 2–6	All institutions notified. Estate late bank account opened.
5	Asset Claims & Transfers	Months 3–18	L&D Account compiled. All assets distributed.
6	SARS, Tax & Closure	Months 6–36	SARS tax clearance. Master's discharge received.

Estate administration coordination. Fixed fee. Human-led. Technology-backed.

An executor's agent. Not a law firm. Not an executor.

The family always knows where their case stands.

Phase tracker

Document status

Message thread

Deadline visibility

40+ documents. 12–36 months. All of it coordinated.

Every intake call ends with a clear recommendation.

DIY Route

Appointed Agent

Attorney Referral

The family coordinates the grief. We coordinate the estate.

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