South Africa
Deceased Estates
We are committed to our clients and are here to assist you in any way we can during this difficult time. Please use the below links to contact us.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO?
DECEASED ESTATES PROCESS
You must provide the following information:
FOR MASTERS’S OFFICE
- Original Will or next of kin affidavit (J192 form if there’s no Will)
- Affidavit to take care of the children (only if the Deceased left children who are minors)
- Inventory list (J243 form)
- List of creditors (only if the estate is less than R250 000)
- Declaration that the estate has not been reported to another Master’s office
- Declaration of marriage
- Nominations form
- J155 form- Acceptance of Master’s instructions (less than R250 000 estate)
- J190 form- Acceptance of trust as Executor (more than R250 000 estate)
For an overview of the full requirements, you can visit the Master’s website
FOR STANDARD BANK
- The IDs of the Deceased, the Executor or the Master’s Representative and all appointed Agents
- Power of Attorney (if the Executor appointed is an Agent)
- The Death Notice (completed Form BI-1663)
- The death certificate
- Letters of Executorship/Authority
- Proof of residence of the Executor or the Master’s Representative and all their Agents
- Contact details of the Executor or the Master’s Representative and next-of-kin
- Proof of an estate bank account (if it is a large estate)
-
FOR MASTERS’S OFFICE
-
FOR STANDARD BANK
- Original Will or next of kin affidavit (J192 form if there’s no Will)
- Affidavit to take care of the children (only if the Deceased left children who are minors)
- Inventory list (J243 form)
- List of creditors (only if the estate is less than R250 000)
- Declaration that the estate has not been reported to another Master’s office
- Declaration of marriage
- Nominations form
- J155 form- Acceptance of Master’s instructions (less than R250 000 estate)
- J190 form- Acceptance of trust as Executor (more than R250 000 estate)
For an overview of the full requirements, you can visit the Master’s website
- The IDs of the Deceased, the Executor or the Master’s Representative and all appointed Agents
- Power of Attorney (if the Executor appointed is an Agent)
- The Death Notice (completed Form BI-1663)
- The death certificate
- Letters of Executorship/Authority
- Proof of residence of the Executor or the Master’s Representative and all their Agents
- Contact details of the Executor or the Master’s Representative and next-of-kin
- Proof of an estate bank account (if it is a large estate)
WHAT TO DO WHEN A LOVED ONE PASSES AWAY
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
- All copies of smart ID cards must show both sides – front and back
- Proof of the Deceased’s bank account or a nominated bank account must be certified and must have the certification stamp of a Commissioner of Oaths (only if the account is not held with Standard Bank)
- We do not accept certifications done at the Post Office
- We can only process your request once we receive the outstanding document(s). You must therefore send these to [email protected] as soon as possible
WHAT YOU NEED
- Obtain their original ID copy
- Obtain their original Will
- Certify copies of their ID, Will and other important information
You can certify documents at any police station or attorney firm for free. Important: Make sure that the commissioner of oaths signs, stamps and dates every single page of all copies, that all copies are clear and not faded and that the stamp is not smudged - Obtain their financial information (bank & financial statements, policies and funeral cover)
WHAT TO DO
- Find out what debit orders or monthly payments were due by the Deceased and try to maintain the necessary ones. It is always helpful to cancel subscriptions (for example DSTV) as soon as possible
- Close all social media accounts.
- Make sure that the surviving spouse, any dependent minor children and pets have a safe place to stay and are properly cared for
- Report the death to SARS
- Collect all post that is relevant to the estate
-
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
-
WHAT YOU NEED
-
WHAT TO DO
- All copies of smart ID cards must show both sides – front and back
- Proof of the Deceased’s bank account or a nominated bank account must be certified and must have the certification stamp of a Commissioner of Oaths (only if the account is not held with Standard Bank)
- We do not accept certifications done at the Post Office
- We can only process your request once we receive the outstanding document(s). You must therefore send these to [email protected] as soon as possible
- Obtain their original ID copy
- Obtain their original Will
- Certify copies of their ID, Will and other important information
You can certify documents at any police station or attorney firm for free. Important: Make sure that the commissioner of oaths signs, stamps and dates every single page of all copies, that all copies are clear and not faded and that the stamp is not smudged - Obtain their financial information (bank & financial statements, policies and funeral cover)
- Find out what debit orders or monthly payments were due by the Deceased and try to maintain the necessary ones. It is always helpful to cancel subscriptions (for example DSTV) as soon as possible
- Close all social media accounts.
- Make sure that the surviving spouse, any dependent minor children and pets have a safe place to stay and are properly cared for
- Report the death to SARS
- Collect all post that is relevant to the estate
FUNERAL PAYOUTS PROCESS
Follow these steps to receive the Funeral Policy payout
Get permission from the Master of the High Court
You need to get permission from the Master of the High Court to release the funds from the relevant bank account to pay for the funeral arrangements. Approach the Master with a written request to access the Deceased’s funds with quotes or invoices of the funeral costs. If the Master is satisfied with this request, they will issue a formal letter to the bank for them to permit you to release the specified amount.
Get permission from the Master of the High Court continuation…
This formal letter gives us authority to process payments from the Deceased’s bank account directly to the funeral service providers, e.g., parlour, catering company etc. We act on the instruction of the Master to process payments for the Deceased’s estate.
Section 11 of the Administration of Estates Act, 66 of 1965 is a request from the Masters Office requesting the Bank to release a specified and reasonable amount to pay for the funeral expenses.
Required documents
When sending through a request for emergency funeral funds, please provide the formal letter together with the following:
- Certified copies of the Deceased’s ID and Death Certificate
- The quote or invoice from the funeral parlour or other supplier.
These three documents must be sent to [email protected]
Contact us for urgent assistance
Once all required documents have been submitted to [email protected], you can contact us on 0860 439 770 if you need any urgent assistance.
STANDARD BANK INSURANCE BROKERS (SBIB)
SBIB pays out Credit Life and Life Cover insurance claims if the Deceased had valid insurance in place at the date of death. It also pays out funeral claims to the relevant parties. To contact SBIB please make use of the following email addresses:.
- Send funeral claims to:
[email protected] - Send credit life claims to:
[email protected] - Send direct life/frank.Net claims to:
[email protected]
You can also use WhatsApp to lodge a claim.
Send “Hi” to 064 570 0291, then select option 4 “Life insurance”.
Would you like to report a death
PLEASE REACH OUT TO US
If you have any further questions or concerns we will be happy to assist you via any of the following channels:
Wills
A Will represents peace of mind for you and those you care about. The importance of a Will, and the protection it gives your family cannot be overstated. We can help you draft a personalised Will, as well as offer ongoing reviews should your circumstances change. Plus, we can hold your Will in the safe custody of Standard Trust’s vault.
Trusts
By establishing a Trust, you are able to set up a structure and appoint trustees to manage your assets for the benefit of your beneficiaries. Our experienced Trust specialists are ready to help you draft a Trust deed and establish a Trust to create a lasting legacy for your loved ones.