Deceased Estates

How to Track a Deceased Estate on the ICMS Portal

3 October 2026 /

Quick Answer

The ICMS web portal lets anyone track a deceased estate file at the Master of the High Court — search by surname or estate number to see the executor, the estate status and whether the liquidation and distribution account has been advertised.

Searching deceased estate records on the ICMS web portal with a magnifying glass

Image: WolfenSilva, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

What the ICMS Portal Is

The Insolvency and Curatorship / Estates web portal (ICMS) run by the Department of Justice lets the public track deceased estate files at the Master’s offices. Executors, heirs and agents use it to see where an estate stands without phoning the Master’s office.

What You Can See

  • Whether an estate file exists and which Master’s office holds it.
  • The estate number and the date the estate was reported.
  • The executor or agent appointed to the estate.
  • Whether the liquidation and distribution account has been advertised and filed.

How to Track an Estate

  1. Open the ICMS web portal on the Department of Justice website.
  2. Search by the deceased’s surname, or by estate number if you have it.
  3. Select the correct estate from the results (match the full names and date of death).
  4. Check the file status — and query the Master’s office if the status looks stale for more than a few months.

Why Tracking Helps Before You Advertise

Agents and executors use the portal to confirm the executor’s exact appointment wording and estate number before drafting the J193 or J187 notice — small mismatches are the most common reason the Government Printing Works rejects a notice. We verify every estate number against the file before lodgement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the ICMS portal free?

Yes — searching the portal costs nothing and no registration is required for basic estate searches.

How current is the information?

The portal reflects what the Master’s office has captured. Very recent reports may take a short while to appear.

Can I track someone else’s estate?

Estate files are public records once opened — heirs, creditors and anyone with an interest may look them up, which is exactly why the law requires Gazette advertising.

Request Your Estate Advert

Found the estate on ICMS and ready to advertise? Send the estate number below — we verify it against the file and place the notice for a flat R400 per advert.

Verified the Estate? Advertise for R400

We check every estate number on ICMS before lodgement, then draft, place and prove your notice for a flat R400.

Get a Quotation

nicolette@adminboss.co.za  •  074 487 5082

A division of Admin Boss — small-business administration services, South Africa.

Official Resources

Related Guides

Last updated: 4 October 2026 by Admin Boss – Estate Division, Pretoria. 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.

Related: The requirements to advertise an estate, as set out by the Master of the High Court  |  J193 and J187 forms in South Africa  |  Estate notice glossary and FAQs  |  Estate notice advertising — flat R400 per advert

Admin Boss – Estate Division is based in Pretoria, Gauteng, and assists clients remotely across South Africa — call 074 487 5082.