When someone passes away in South Africa, the estate cannot simply be divided among the heirs. The Master of the High Court oversees the process, and one of the Master’s most important safeguards is compulsory advertising. Every standard deceased estate must be advertised at least twice — once to call in creditors, and once to open the executor’s account for public inspection. This guide explains the exact deceased estate advertising requirements, which forms to use, which newspapers qualify, and the deadlines you cannot afford to miss. Why deceased estates must be advertised Advertising a deceased estate is not a formality. It exists to protect three groups of people: Creditors —…