Deceased Estate Notices Glossary and FAQs
Quick Answer
This glossary explains every term you will meet when a deceased estate is advertised in South Africa — from letters of executorship to the J193 and J187 notices — in plain English, with answers to the questions we hear most often.
Deceased estate administration runs on jargon: form numbers, Act sections and Latin-sounding process words. Use this page as your reference while you read our guides or a notice in the Government Gazette. Every definition below is written for families and executors, not lawyers.
Estate Notice Terms in Plain English
Deceased estate
Everything a person owned and owed on the date of death: property, vehicles, bank accounts, investments and debts. The estate is reported to the Master of the High Court and wound up by an executor.
Executor
The person or institution appointed by the Master of the High Court to take control of the estate, pay the debts and distribute what remains to the heirs.
Master of the High Court
The government office that supervises the administration of deceased estates in South Africa, appoints executors and receives estate accounts.
Letters of executorship
The document issued by the Master on form J190 that officially authorises the executor to act. The estate adverts may only be placed once these letters are issued.
J193 notice
The notice to creditors required by Section 29 of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965. It gives creditors and debtors 30 days to lodge claims against the estate.
J187 notice
The advert required by Section 35(5) of the same Act, announcing that the liquidation and distribution account lies open for public inspection for 21 days.
Liquidation and distribution account
The full financial statement of the estate prepared by the executor: every asset, every debt, the costs of administration and exactly how much each heir receives.
Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965
The law that governs how deceased estates are reported, advertised and wound up in South Africa, including the J193 and J187 notice requirements.
Government Gazette
The official newspaper of the South African government in which estate notices must appear. Legal Gazettes are published every Friday by the Government Printing Works.
Creditor
A person or business the deceased owed money to. Creditors must lodge their claims within the 30-day period given in the J193 notice.
Inspection period
The 21 days during which the liquidation and distribution account lies open for public inspection at the office of the Master and, where applicable, the local magistrate.
Heir
A person entitled to inherit from the estate, either under a valid will or under the law of intestate succession where there is no will.
Photo: Romain Vignes, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a J193 and a J187 notice?
The J193 notice to creditors opens the estate to claims for 30 days. The J187 notice comes later and announces that the liquidation and distribution account lies open for inspection for 21 days. Every full estate administration needs both.
Do all deceased estates have to be advertised?
Estates with a gross value over R250 000 follow the full process: an executor is appointed and both adverts are required. Smaller estates may be wound up under Section 18(3) with letters of authority, without formal advertising.
How long does it take to wind up a deceased estate in South Africa?
A straightforward estate usually takes 6 to 12 months. Delays in receiving documents, property transfers, SARS clearance or objections to the account can extend this.
Where can I see published estate notices?
In the legal Government Gazette, which can be downloaded free from the Government Printing Works website, and on our recent deceased estate notices page, which lists the notices we have published.
Who can place a deceased estate notice for me?
Executors, attorneys, trust companies and specialist agents. Admin Boss – Estate Division prepares the wording, books the Government Gazette and the correct local newspaper, and keeps proof of publication.
Read Our Step-by-Step Guides
- How to Advertise a Deceased Estate in South Africa — the full process from death notice to payout
- J193 Notice to Creditors Explained (Section 29) — the 30-day advert for claims against the estate
- J187 Notice: Liquidation and Distribution Account Explained — the 21-day account inspection advert
- J193 Notice to Creditors Service — we draft and place the creditor advert for you
- J187 Liquidation & Distribution Account Service — we draft and place the account advert for you
- Recent Deceased Estate Notices — notices we have published in recent Gazettes
Official Resources
- Department of Justice: Deceased Estates — the role of the Master of the High Court
- Department of Justice: Reporting an Estate — how an estate is reported and an executor appointed
- Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 (PDF) — the Act behind every term on this page
- Government Printing Works: Legal Gazettes — download every published Gazette free of charge
Ready to Advertise? Talk to Nicolette
Send us the estate details and we will prepare the notice, a fixed quotation, and the publication plan for the next Friday Government Gazette.
Last reviewed on 2 October 2026 against the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 and the publication requirements of the Government Printing Works. Admin Boss – Estate Division is a notice publication and administrative service, not a law firm; we do not give legal advice.