The last thing you need while dealing with the death of a loved one is the confusion that comes with the legal processes surrounding this. You find yourself bombarded by funeral arrangements and all sorts of other paperwork that you’ve never heard of. That is why Deceased Estate Administrators(also known as executors/deceased estate lawyers) like Engelbrecht Attorneys are around to help you through the following process.
Meet with the family
The deceased estate administrator starts the process off by meeting with you and your family. During this meeting the administrator will take you through the process and explain everything you can expect in the process, as well as answering any questions you may have in order to put your mind at ease. They will also make sure to acquire all the relevant documentation (like the death certificate and list of assets and/or liabilities) that is necessary to continue the process.
Reporting to the Master of the High Court
Once your deceased estate lawyer has all the necessary paperwork they will report the estate to the Master of the High Court. Once the administrator’s appointment is confirmed by the Master, they may then proceed with handling the deceased’s estate and all its assets and liabilities.
Providing notice to creditors
Once the estate has been duly reported, the deceased estate lawyer will place a notice in the local newspaper and/or Government Gazette so that any relevant creditors may make their claims against the deceased estate within a period of 30 days (and up to three months) from publication of the notice.
Collect the assets of the estate and handle creditors
An important part of the process moving forward will be to close the deceased’s bank accounts and place the money from the estate into a separate account. From this account the deceased estate administrator will determine whether there are sufficient funds to pay for the liabilities, and if there are not then assets within the estate will need to be sold to make up the difference.
Split the balance of the assets between the beneficiaries
Once the liabilities of the estate have been handled and all accounts have been approved by the Master of the High Court, the administrator will distribute the remaining assets between the beneficiaries/heirs as appropriate.
The entire process can take around four to six months, and it is a lot for any family to keep up with, which is why it is always best to seek professional assistance. If you are looking for deceased estate lawyers in Pretoria, get in touch with Engelbrecht Attorneys and let them handle the administration of the estate and the transfer of property (after a free quotation).
