My husband passed away, I do not have any family and do not have any children. I am the residuary heir of the estate. I feel all alone and with the loss of my husband, I have many questions regarding the assistance I need to administer the estate.

Sentinel is here to help by taking on the role as the Executor of you loved-ones deceased estate.  Let us unpack and help you understand your questions.

If I have a fixed property, what will you require from me to transfer the property to my name?

Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer would need the original Title Deed(s) / Contract / Deed(s) of Grant, rates & taxes / levy accounts and/or bond account details (whichever applies to the fixed property). If the property is still bonded, the executor will first need to arrange the settlement of the outstanding bond before the conveyancing attorney can deal with the transferring process.

My husband had a motor vehicle, what will you require from me to transfer the motor vehicle to my name?

Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer would require the original Registration Document(s) or the finance details, if applicable. If there is an outstanding balance due, the executor will first need to arrange the settlement of the balance, before drafting the transfer documents and either handing the documents to you to visit the local licensing department or instructing an agent to deal with the transfer.

My husband had unit trusts, bank accounts and life insurance. Do you help with this, or would I need to contact them directly?

You need to furnish us with the details of the companies the deceased had unit trusts, bank accounts and/or life insurance policies with.  Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer will contact the respective companies and obtain their requirements to sell/transfer the unit trusts, close the bank accounts and information from the insurance companies if they are payable directly to you, to the estate or if Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer can transfer the same to you.

What is a summarized version of the administration of estates process?

1. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer reports the estate to the Master of the High Court once Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer receives the reporting documents from you.
2. The Master of the High Court will issue a Letter of Executorship if the gross value of the estate is over R250 000.00, or the Master of the High Court will issue a Letter of Authority if the gross value of the estate is under R250 000.00
3. Upon receipt of the Letter of Executorship/Letter of Authority Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer opens an estate late bank account.
4. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer placed a Section 29 advertisement in the Government Gazette and the local newspaper in the area the deceased lived informing the public that Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer are administering the estate and debtors and creditors to come forward.
5. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer notify the various institutions of the death of the deceased and deal with their requirements to redeem/transfer the assets.
6. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer reports the death to the South African Revenue Services and requests details of the outstanding tax returns which need to be dealt with.
7. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer draft the Liquidation and Distribution Account which is the assets and liabilities of the estate reflecting the values of the assets and liabilities, and thereafter lodge the Account with the Master of the High Court for approval.
8. Once the Liquidation and Distribution Account is approved, Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer will lodge a copy of the same with the local Magistrate Court, South African Revenue Services, and beneficiaries.
9. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer places a Section 35 advertisement in the Government Gazette and the local newspaper in the area where the deceased lived informing the public the Account is open for inspection for a period of twenty-one days.
10. Once the Liquidation and Distribution Account has lain for inspection free from objections, Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer draft an Interim Cash Distribution Statement, pay legatees, transfer assets to the beneficiaries, make an interim payment to the beneficiaries, if there is no cash shortfall. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer also holds back some funds for tax purposes and transfer costs.
11. Once the tax has been finalised, Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer requests the Deceased Estate Compliance Certificate and Estate Duty Clearance Certificate, if applicable.
12. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer drafts a Final Cash Distribution Statement and pays the beneficiaries, in applicable the remaining funds in the estate.
13. Sentinel’s Deceased Estates Officer complies with the Master of the High Court’s final requirements and requests an Application for Discharge to enable us to close the estate file.

Sentinel International cares about you and your family. We will take this journey together and with your co-operation and our expertise we aim to make the administration of an estate a smooth and pain-free process.

Author: Maruska Sewpersad

Deceased Estates Practitioner

Maruska is a seasoned Deceased Estates Practitioner based at our Durban Westville office.

Maruska has been with Sentinel since 2007.