To appoint an executor of an estate (all your assets; property & debts including bank accounts; businesses and personal items), the Master of the High Court must be notified of the death through certain prescribed documents. He or she then examines them and once satisfied with the validity of the will the Master appoints the executor by issuing a "letter of executorship".

• The executor will contact all relevant banks & financial services companies.
• When the executor receives the letter of executorship, he or she is obliged to place a notice in the Government Gazette and in one or more local newspapers, requesting the creditors of the deceased to notify the executor of any claims against the estate within 30 days. During this 30-day period, the executor continues to obtain valuations of fixed and movable assets in the estate, as well as particulars of the deceased's investments.
• As soon as all this information has been received, the executor determines if the estate has sufficient cash (or money in the bank) to meet its obligations. If not, the beneficiaries are consulted about the way in which they intend meeting the cash shortfall. If they are unable to do so, the executor will sell assets from the estate to cover the cash deficit. Selling of assets often leads to lengthy negotiations with beneficiaries, auctioneers and others, which can delay the administration of the estate.
• At this stage, the executor also determines the tax position of the deceased by submitting the necessary returns to the South African Revenue Services.
• Compiling a Liquidation and Distribution Account can take up to six months, depending on the size and complexity of the estate. In terms of the Administration of Estates Act, the executor must submit the account within six months of the issue of the letter of executorship, unless the Master of the Court has given permission in advance for a time extension.

• On the basis of the information obtained, the Liquidation and Distribution Account sets out all assets, liabilities and administration costs, explains how assets are divided and determines if estate duty is payable. The account therefore sums up the entire administration process.
• The account is submitted to the Master of the Court for examination against certain legal rules. The Master may request further information and proof from the executor.
• The examination process takes four to eight weeks.

• Once the Master is satisfied with the account, the executor makes it available for inspection by concerned parties for at least 21 days. This is achieved by placing a notice in the Government Gazette and in one or more local newspapers, indicating where the account will be open for inspection for the required period. Anyone who has an interest in the estate and who has an objection to the account may lodge an objection with the Master or, when applicable, a Magistrate, during the 21-day period.
• The Master refers any objections to the executor for a response. Once the Master has received the executor's response, he will make a decision which is binding on the executor.
• If the executor or the person who raised the objection doesn't agree with the Master's decision, they can, within 30 days or any further period of time the Court allows, apply to Court for an order to set aside the Master's decision. This could result in the administration process being postponed until conclusion of the court case and the finalisation of the estate taking place only after the objection has been settled.
• Settlement of an objection against the Liquidation and Distribution Account may take a long period of time depending on the negotiations and if the matter is referred to Court to be settled.
• If there are no objections, the executor may proceed to finalise the estate.

• If no objections are made against the Liquidation and Distribution Account, or if an objection has been settled, the executor can finalise the estate. He or she pays the creditors, hands over inheritances to the heirs and arranges for the transfer of fixed property in the names of those entitled to it. The process of transfer can take a few weeks, as there are various legislative requirements to be met.
• As soon as proof has been provided to the Master that all creditors have been paid, that the heirs have received their inheritances and that the fixed property has been transferred, the estate is regarded as finalised and the executor's duties come to an end.
• The process of finalisation takes four to eight weeks.