EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Documents Families Must Gather After a Death

A practical checklist to reduce delays and stress
Infosheet 6 of 28

One of the most practical things a family can do in the early days after a death — even before the executor is formally appointed — is to start gathering documents. The right documents, collected early, can save weeks of delay later.

Estate administration is a paper-intensive process. The Master of the High Court, SARS, banks, insurers, and the Deeds Office will all require documentation at various stages. If those documents are missing, incomplete, or have to be tracked down mid-process, the estate stalls.

This infosheet gives you a comprehensive checklist of the documents typically required for a deceased estate in South Africa. Not every estate will need every document on this list, and some estates may need documents not on it. But as a starting point, this is what to look for — and the sooner you start, the better.

1 Personal Documents
  • Original ID of the deceased
  • If married, copy of the spouse’s ID
  • Death Certificate and copy of BI1663 form
  • Marriage certificate or divorce order
  • Antenuptial contract (if applicable)
  • Birth certificates of minor children
  • ID documents of heirs
2 The Will
  • Original signed will
  • Any codicils or amendments
  • Contact details of the nominated executor
3 Financial Documents
  • Bank statements
  • Investment certificates
  • Retirement annuity details
  • Life insurance policies
  • Loan agreements
  • Tax number and last tax return
4 Property & Asset Documents
  • Title deeds and municipal accounts
  • Vehicle registration papers
  • Lease agreements
  • Business ownership documents
  • Share certificates
  • Firearm licences
5 Monthly Accounts & Liabilities
  • Municipal accounts
  • Medical aid statements
  • Credit card accounts
  • Store accounts
  • Bond statements
  • Debit order details
6 Other Useful Information
  • Passwords or access instructions (if available)
  • Contact details of financial advisors
  • List of digital assets (email, social media, cloud storage)

Please note: this list is not exhaustive. Contact our office for a full personalised checklist.

A Note From Our Practice

Losing someone you love is hard enough. The legal process of winding up their estate should not be a source of additional confusion or anxiety. But for most families, it is.

Estate administration in South Africa is a structured legal process governed by the Administration of Estates Act and a range of other legislation. It involves the Master of the High Court, SARS, financial institutions, the Deeds Office, and more. It takes time. It requires documents. And it can feel, at every turn, like a system that expects you to already know how it works.
We created this educational series because we believe informed families make better decisions and because the questions we are asked most often are the same ones that could be answered before a client ever walks through our door.

The CDT Educational Series consists of 28 infosheets covering the full spectrum of deceased estate administration, from the first 72 hours after a death to the final distribution of assets. Each infosheet is written in plain language, without jargon, and is designed to give you a clear picture of what the process involves and why each step exists.

Important: These infosheets are educational resources. They provide general information about the estate administration process in South Africa and are not intended as legal advice. Every estate has its own facts, complexities, and circumstances. Nothing in this series should be relied upon as a substitute for professional legal guidance specific to your matter.

Our intention is simple: to help you understand the landscape, ask the right questions, and feel confident when you come to us for help. Because when you are ready, we are here.

Cari du Toit & Aqeela Peters

Directors
Cari du Toit Incorporated Attorneys & Conveyancers