An estate valued at R250,000 or less falls within the current monetary threshold for the simplified section 18(3) procedure, but the reporting location is still determined by the Master’s jurisdiction and current service point rules.

The estate should be reported through the Master of the High Court having jurisdiction where the deceased was ordinarily resident at death, through the Department of Justice’s current online deceased estate registration system where applicable, or at a Magistrate’s Office that has jurisdiction as a service point.

The current Chief Master’s directive distinguishes between service points with and without the Paperless Estates Administration System (PEAS). Where PEAS has not been rolled out, the service point can make an appointment only if the deceased left no valid will, the estate is worth no more than R125,000, the estate is solvent, and the beneficiary conditions in the directive are met. Where PEAS has been rolled out, the limit is R250,000, provided the deceased left no valid will, the estate is solvent, and the beneficiary conditions are met. Any estate with a will, codicil or document purporting to be one must be dealt with directly by the Master’s Office, irrespective of value. Because service point systems and procedures can change, the current Master’s guidance should still be checked when the estate is reported.

See also: What happens if the value of the deceased estate is below R250,000? | How to register a deceased estate?

Disclaimer: The information provided here is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Every situation is unique, and legislation is subject to change. We invite you to reach out to our team at Wealth and Legacy Group for guidance tailored to your specific circumstances.