Form J187 Advertisement: where and how to publish

A Form J187 advertisement is the formal notice that the Liquidation and Distribution (L&D) account of a deceased estate is open for inspection. The notice is required by Section 35(5) of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 and must run in two places at the same time.

This guide explains exactly where to publish, what the notice must contain, and how to lodge proof with the Master of the High Court.

When the Form J187 Advertisement Is Required

The advertisement may only be published after the Master of the High Court has approved the L&D account. Publishing before approval is invalid and the notice must be repeated at the executor’s cost.

The Master will send a notice of approval to the executor. Once approved, the executor has a duty to publish without unnecessary delay. There is no strict statutory deadline, but the Master expects publication within a reasonable period.

Where to Publish

The notice must run in two places at the same time, or as close to it as possible:

• The Government Gazette of South Africa
• One newspaper circulating in the deceased’s last district of ordinary residence

The newspaper does not have to be national. A local district paper is acceptable as long as it has general circulation in the area where the deceased lived in the 12 months before death.

If the deceased lived in more than one district during that period, the executor should choose the district of last ordinary residence. Where there is doubt, the Master may direct the executor to publish in multiple districts.

Government Gazette Publication

The Government Gazette is published weekly. Notices must reach the Government Printing Works before the cut-off date for that week’s edition.

Practical points:

• The Gazette publishes on Fridays
• The cut-off for submissions is typically the preceding Wednesday at noon
• Notices are charged per word or per centimetre of column space, depending on format
• A certified copy of the published page must be obtained as proof

Executors who submit notices without help often miss the cut-off and lose a week. You can submit your J187 notice via LegalNotice.co.za to avoid the delay and ensure the notice is correctly formatted before submission.

Newspaper Publication

The newspaper publication runs alongside the Gazette. The date of publication should match or fall within the same week as the Gazette date.

Acceptable newspapers include:

• Daily provincial newspapers
• Weekly community newspapers
• Established community publications such as Kerkbode for relevant communities

The newspaper must keep a record of the publication date and provide either the original printed page or a publisher’s certificate confirming publication.

What the Form J187 Must Contain

The advertisement follows the prescribed format set out in the Administration of Estates Act. Required fields include:

• Estate of: full name and surname of the deceased
• Identity number of the deceased
• Date of death
• Estate number issued by the Master
• The Master’s office that issued the Letters of Executorship
• Magistrate’s Court where the account will also lie for inspection, where applicable
• The 21 day inspection period
• Full name and contact details of the executor or appointed agent

A single error in any of these details requires republication. Executors should double-check the estate number and date of death against the Letters of Executorship.

The 21 Day Inspection Period

The 21 day inspection period runs from the later of the Gazette or newspaper publication date. During this period, the account lies open for inspection at:

• The Master of the High Court that issued the Letters of Executorship
• The Magistrate’s Court in the deceased’s last district of ordinary residence, where applicable

Anyone with an interest in the estate may inspect the account. This includes heirs, creditors, beneficiaries of trusts established under the will, and any third party who claims an interest.

Lodging Proof of Publication

After publication, the executor must lodge proof with the Master. The proof must include:

• The full certified Gazette page containing the notice
• The full original newspaper page or a publisher’s certificate
• A covering letter referencing the estate number

The Master will not finalise the estate without this proof. Keep duplicates in case the originals are misplaced at the Master’s office.

For more on the legal background, read our guide on the Section 35(5) notice. Executors handling their first estate may also want to read the Nuusflits guide on placing a Form 187 advert for a step-by-step view.

Cost and Timing

Cost varies by:

• Length of the notice (charged per word or column centimetre)
• Newspaper selected (community papers are typically cheaper than mainstream dailies)
• Whether a specialist service is used to handle both publications

Plan for at least one week between submission and publication. Allow another three weeks for the inspection period before the estate can move toward finalisation.

A Form J187 advertisement done correctly the first time keeps the estate on track. A poorly drafted or incorrectly placed notice adds weeks of avoidable delay.