Our Services
We provide expert estate administration and fiduciary solutions designed to simplify the process and offer peace of mind. Our dedicated team ensures that every detail is managed with professionalism, care, and efficiency, allowing you to focus on what truly matters.
Deceased Estate Administration
At Perpetual Fiduciary Services, we understand that dealing with estates and the administration thereof can be a daunting and overwhelming task. That’s why we take care of the burden of deceased estate administration by winding up your financial affairs and distributing your property and assets after you die.
The Administration Process
- Reporting the estate to the Master of the High Court. The Master will issue Letters of Executorship.
- Advertising the estate for debtors and creditors.
- Collecting assets due to the estate including immovable properties, investments and shares and confirming whether any debts are payable from the proceeds of the estate.
- If the estate is solvent, debts will be paid and arrangements will be made for the heirs to take transfer of estate assets.
- Drafting and lodging the liquidation and distribution account with the Masters Office. The account shows all assets and liabilities in the estate, as well as the distribution to the heirs in accordance with the Will.
- The Masters Office will examine the account and will provide consent to advertise the account for all interested parties.
- Once the advertisement period has expired, the Masters Office will provide consent to distribute the estate to the heirs in accordance with the account.
Drafting of Wills
Our skilled team ensures that your Will is drafted in accordance with your Estate Plan and wishes.
A will is an essential written legal document which nominates the beneficiaries of your estate, allows you to nominate a Guardian for your minor children and enables you to protect the inheritances of your heirs, for example, by registering a Trust to care for your minor children in accordance with your wishes and to prevent the funds being paid to the Guardian’s Fund, a Government managed fund.
Having a valid Will ensures that your legacy is upheld, your estate is distributed in accordance with your wishes, rather than in accordance with Intestate Succession and will most likely lead to fewer delays in appointing an Executor of your estate.
Estate Planning
We undertake thoughtful and effective estate planning to make sure that your finances and assets are structured to minimize estate duties, to be able to pay any financial obligations and to distribute any inheritance to your beneficiaries upon your death.
Our skilled Fiduciary specialists can assist you in structuring a detailed, comprehensive estate plan to ensure that that your estate is structured in a practical, tax-efficient manner, ensuring your beneficiaries are cared for when you are no longer around.
We consult with you to discuss your assets and wishes and will prepare your Will accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about our estate administration, wills, and fiduciary services. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact us.
Deceased Estates are reported to the Master of the High Court, a governmental body that oversees the administration process.
If the Estate has a gross asset value of R250 000,00 or more, administration must be completed by an attorney, accountant or other professional.
Your estate must be reported to the Master’s Office in whose jurisdiction you are resident 12 months prior to death. If you are living outside of South Africa at the time of your death, your spouse or nearest relative can report your death to any Master’s Office.
Your deceased estate is liable for the executor’s fees. Executors are entitled to charge up to 3.5% of the gross value of assets in your estate plus 6% on any income accrued and collected after your death. Contact us to have a comprehensive estate plan drafted to ensure that you understand which assets fall in your deceased estate and are subject to executor’s fees.
Witnesses must be unrelated individuals (ie, not your Executor, spouse or an heir), must be older than 14 years of age and are competent to testify in a Court.
The deceased estate administration process is lengthy due to the various stakeholders involved, as well as the legal requirements which must be adhered to. The process may last between four months and two years.
Your estate will devolve upon your heirs in accordance with the Principles of Intestate Succession.
Yes, you can appoint a member of your family as your executor provided they are over the age of 18, did not sign as a witness to your will and are of sound mind.
Our mission is to remove the administrative burden of the heirs who are mourning their loved one and to administer the estate in a professional and efficient way.
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