EDUCATIONAL SERIES

How to Prepare for a Meeting With an Executor

A simple guide to help families feel confident and organised
Infosheet 25 of 28

The first meeting with a professional team assisting with winding up an estate can feel overwhelming, particularly when it takes place in the days or weeks immediately following a death. Grief affects concentration, decision-making, and the ability to absorb new information. Coming prepared makes a real difference.

A good first meeting sets the tone for the entire administration process. It is an opportunity to provide the executor with the documents and information they need, to understand what the process involves, to ask the questions that are on your mind, and to establish how communication will work going forward.

This infosheet is a practical preparation guide. It covers what to bring, what information to have ready, the questions worth asking, and how to approach the meeting in a way that is useful for everyone involved.

1 Documents to Bring
  • Death Certificate
  • Original will (if available)
  • ID of the deceased
  • Marriage certificate or divorce order
  • Bank statements and financial documents
  • Title deeds or property information
  • Vehicle papers
  • List of monthly accounts and subscriptions
2 Information to Have Ready
  • Details of close family members
  • Contact information for financial advisors
  • List of assets and liabilities
  • Location of important documents
  • Any urgent concerns (e.g., property security, dependants)
3 Questions You May Want to Ask
  • What are the next steps?
  • How long will the process take?
  • What documents will you need from us?
  • How will communication work?
  • What costs should we expect?
4 Tips for a Smooth Meeting
  • Bring a notebook
  • Ask for explanations in plain language
  • Share concerns early
  • Keep an open mind — the process is structured by law

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