Form J193 Notice: Example and How to Submit

Form J193 is the prescribed Section 29 notice used by executors and attorneys to publish a deceased estate notice. The form is short, but each field must match the Letters of Executorship exactly. Any mismatch causes the Master to reject the proof of publication. The full prescribed wording is set by the Master of the High Court, and executors must use the current version of the form as issued.

What Is Form J193

Form J193 is the prescribed notice issued under Section 29 of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965. The form invites all creditors and debtors of the deceased estate to lodge claims or pay debts within the period prescribed in the notice.

Form J193 is published in two places: the Government Gazette and a newspaper circulating in the district of the deceased’s last residence.

Fields Required on Form J193

The prescribed form requires the following details for each estate:

• Estate number, as issued by the Master.
• Surname of the deceased.
• First names of the deceased.
• Date of birth.
• Identity number.
• Date of death.
• Last address of the deceased.
• Name of the executor.
• Address of the executor.
• The period within which claims must be lodged.

The prescribed wording on the form itself is fixed and must be reproduced exactly as set out on the current form issued by the Master. Do not paraphrase the body of the notice.

Where Each Field Comes From

Every field on Form J193 has a single source document. Pulling the details from anywhere else risks a mismatch.

• Estate Number: Letters of Executorship issued by the Master.
• Surname, first names, ID number: The deceased’s identity document.
• Date of death: Death certificate issued by Home Affairs.
• Date of birth: The deceased’s identity document.
• Last address: Confirmed against the deceased’s documents and family knowledge.
• Executor name and address: The Letters of Executorship and the executor’s appointment letter.

Cross-reference each field against the underlying document before submission.

How to Submit Form J193 for Publication

The submission process has four steps:

• Complete Form J193 in full, with no blank or “to follow” fields.
• Verify the Master’s reference number against the Letters of Executorship.
• Submit the form to a publication service that handles both the Government Gazette and the newspaper booking.
• Retain proof of publication from both sources for filing with the Master.

To handle both the gazette and the newspaper in a single workflow, you can submit your notice via LegalNotice.co.za and receive a confirmed publication quote.

Government Gazette and Newspaper Deadlines

The Government Printer publishes the Government Gazette on a fixed weekly cycle. Notices must reach the printer by the published deadline to appear in that week’s gazette. Late submissions roll over to the following week.

Newspaper deadlines vary by title. Daily newspapers can publish within a short turnaround, while weeklies require more lead time. Executors working to a tight estate timeline should plan around the slower of the two deadlines.

Common Errors on Form J193

A small mistake on Form J193 can delay the estate by weeks. The most frequent errors include:

• Surname spelt differently from the ID document.
• Estate number missing a digit or letter.
• Date of death captured in the wrong format.
• Executor address that has changed since the Letters of Executorship were issued.
• Newspaper publication in the wrong district.

The Master compares the published notice against the Letters of Executorship before accepting it as proof of compliance.

What Happens After the Notice Period

Once the notice period has expired, the executor compiles a list of all claims received. Valid claims are recorded against the estate and paid in the order of preference set out in the Act.

The executor can then proceed to prepare and file the liquidation and distribution account with the Master.

Related Guides for Executors

For the full publication process behind the form, see our guide on how to publish a Section 29 notice in South Africa. Executors moving to the next stage of the estate should also read our Form J187 Section 35 notice guide.

Final Note on the Form J193 Example

Use the current prescribed Form J193 issued by the Master, verify every field against the source document, and submit through a service that handles both the Government Gazette and the local newspaper in one step.