Every deceased estate in South Africa is administered through the Master of the High Court office that has jurisdiction over the area where the deceased lived. The Chief Master sits in Pretoria. Regional Master of the High Court offices operate across all nine provinces. Knowing which office handles which estate matters because the J193 and J187 notices must reference the correct Master of the High Court and must publish in a newspaper circulating in that office’s area.
ALSO READ: Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2025: online publication of estate notices in South Africa
Master of the High Court offices across South Africa
The Chief Master is in Pretoria. Regional Master of the High Court offices operate in Pretoria and Johannesburg (Gauteng), Cape Town (Western Cape), Pietermaritzburg and Durban (KwaZulu-Natal), Bloemfontein (Free State), Mthatha, Makhanda and Gqeberha (Eastern Cape), Mahikeng (North West), Polokwane and Thohoyandou (Limpopo), Kimberley (Northern Cape) and Mbombela (Mpumalanga). Each office handles deceased estates, trusts, curatorships and the Guardian’s Fund for its area.
Which Master of the High Court office handles which estate
The default rule is that the estate is administered through the Master of the High Court office in whose area the deceased was ordinarily resident at the date of death. Where the deceased had no fixed residence in South Africa but had assets here, the estate is administered through the office in whose area those assets are situated. The Master named on the J193 and the J187 must match the office where the estate is registered. A notice naming the wrong Master is non-compliant and gets rejected.
Publish a notice for any Master of the High Court office
Publishing an estate notice for any Master of the High Court office in South Africa? Legal Notice Publishing handles the full process. Contact [email protected]. For background, see Master of the High Court deceased estates South Africa or legal notices South Africa.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where is the Chief Master of the High Court?
A: In Pretoria. The Chief Master heads the Master’s branch of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
Q: How do I know which Master of the High Court office handles my estate?
A: The estate is administered through the Master of the High Court office in whose area the deceased ordinarily lived at the date of death.
Q: Does every Master of the High Court office accept online publication of estate notices?
A: Yes. Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2025 applies to every Master of the High Court office in South Africa.
Sources: Master of the High Court, Chief Master’s Directives, Master forms
