Estate Notice Advertising: J193 & J187 Adverts for R400
Quick Answer
We advertise J193 notices to creditors and J187 liquidation and distribution account adverts for deceased estates across South Africa — Government Gazette and district publication included — for a flat R400 per advert, with proof of publication for the Master’s file. We are based in Pretoria, Gauteng, and assist clients remotely in every province.
Image: Jonathunder, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
When someone passes away, their estate cannot be finalised until the law’s advertising steps are done. The J193 notice to creditors (Section 29 of the Administration of Estates Act) opens the 30-day claims period, and the J187 liquidation and distribution account (Section 35(5)) opens the account for 21 days of public inspection. We draft, place and prove both — for a flat R400 per advert, never a percentage of the estate. Although we are based in Pretoria, Gauteng, everything is handled by email and WhatsApp, so executors and families anywhere in South Africa use the service remotely.
Two Adverts, One Flat Fee
- J193 — Notice to Creditors: published in the Friday Government Gazette plus a newspaper or approved online publication circulating in the district where the deceased lived. Starts the 30-day period for claims. Full J193 service details.
- J187 — Liquidation and Distribution Account: advertised once the Master has approved the account, giving heirs and creditors 21 days to inspect it before distribution. Full J187 service details.
- R400 per advert, everything included: drafting in the prescribed wording, lodgement with the Government Printing Works, the district publication and your proof pack. Estates needing both adverts pay R750 for the package.
How It Works
- Send the estate details using the form below, or email them to nicolette@adminboss.co.za — the estate number if you have it, the deceased’s full names and your contact details.
- We draft the notice in the prescribed wording and email it to you for approval before anything is lodged.
- We place it in the next available Friday Government Gazette and the correct district publication, then send you the proof of publication for the Master’s file.
Advertising Options and Package Deals
Every advert includes drafting in the prescribed wording, placement and proof of publication for the Master’s file. Choose the reach that suits the estate:
| Option | Price | What is included |
|---|---|---|
| Government Gazette advert | R400 | Friday Government Gazette placement plus the district newspaper or approved online publication, drafting and proof of publication. |
| National newspaper advert | R400 | The same notice placed in The Citizen newspaper, read across all nine provinces and online, with drafting and proof of publication. |
| Gazette + national newspaper package | R750 — save R50 | Both placements for the same notice — full legal coverage plus national reach — for R750 instead of R800. |
Not sure which option fits the estate? Send us the details and we will recommend the right placement for the district, with a fixed quotation before anything is lodged.
Request Your Estate Advert
Complete the form below and Nicolette will reply with the draft notice and the next available Friday Gazette date — or call / WhatsApp 074 487 5082.
Online Publication Under Chief Master Directive 1 of 2025
The Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2025 allows estate notices to run in approved online publications where printed publication is impractical, as long as the publication circulates in the correct district. This makes placement faster and more affordable — and it is one of the ways we keep the fee at a flat R400 per advert. Read our guide to Chief Master Directive 1 of 2025 and online estate adverts.
Please take note: We make use of The Citizen newspaper to advertise. They advertise throughout South Africa and online. Read more about the requirements to advertise an estate as set out by the Master of the High Court.
Every City and Town in South Africa
The Gazette leg is national; the district leg follows where the deceased lived. We advertise estates in all nine provinces — browse the city pages for the J193 notice by city or the J187 account advert by city, from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to smaller towns like Humansdorp, Warrenton and Sutherland.
Guides That Answer the Real Questions
- What to do when a parent dies — a step-by-step checklist
- Dying without a will: how intestate succession works
- Executor’s fees: the 3.5% rule and VAT
- Government Gazette costs and Friday deadlines
- Proof of publication, explained
- Track an estate on the ICMS portal
Browse all fifteen guides in the estate notice glossary and FAQ, and see recently placed notices on the recent estate notices page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to advertise an estate notice?
A flat R400 per advert — in the Government Gazette or in The Citizen national newspaper. An estate needing both legs pays R750. The fee includes drafting, placement and proof of publication.
Where must estate notices be published?
In the Friday Government Gazette and in a newspaper — or an approved online publication under Chief Master Directive 1 of 2025 — circulating in the district where the deceased ordinarily lived, as the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 requires.
How do I start?
Complete the form on this page or email the estate details to nicolette@adminboss.co.za. We reply with the draft notice and the next available Friday Gazette date.
Estate Notices in the Press
Our Notices Also Run in The Free Press SA
Deceased estate and legal notices placed by Admin Boss – Estate Division also appear in The Free Press SA, where readers across South Africa can browse them online.
Adverts run and managed by The Free Press SA.
Ready to Advertise the Estate?
J193 or J187 — flat R400 per advert, drafted, placed in the Gazette and proved. Send the details today.
nicolette@adminboss.co.za • 074 487 5082
A division of Admin Boss — small-business administration services, South Africa.
Official Resources
- Department of Justice and Constitutional Development — Deceased Estates
- Master of the High Court — Official Estate Forms (J-forms)
- Chief Master’s Directives (incl. Directive 1 of 2025)
- GPW — Legal Gazettes (free downloads)
- Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 (official PDF)
Last updated: 28 October 2026 by Admin Boss – Estate Division, Pretoria, Gauteng — assisting clients remotely across South Africa. Questions? Call 074 487 5082 or email nicolette@adminboss.co.za. Admin Boss – Estate Division is a notice publication and administrative service, not a law firm; we do not give legal advice.