A J187 notice is the second statutory advertisement every executor must publish in a deceased estate in South Africa. It is the notice required by Section 35(5) of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965 and informs the public that the Liquidation and Distribution account lies open for inspection. Without a valid J187 notice, the Master of the High Court will not confirm the account.
When a J187 notice is required
Every estate that requires a full Liquidation and Distribution account requires a J187 notice. The notice runs once the Master has accepted the account for inspection and is the executor’s public call for any objection. It must appear in the Government Gazette and in a newspaper circulating in the district where the deceased lived during the 12 months before death. Under Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2025, that newspaper may be a compliant digital newspaper rather than a printed one.
Why a J187 notice gets rejected
The Master rejects more J187 notices on technical drafting and publication issues than on substantive ones. The wording is fixed by the standardised form. Paraphrasing fails. Publication in a newspaper that does not circulate in the correct district fails. Counting the inspection period from the wrong date fails. Each failure means a republication and a fresh inspection period. Weeks lost on every estate.
Get your J187 notice published correctly
Need a J187 notice published this week with the wording, the district circulation and the proof of publication that the Master will accept first time? Legal Notice Publishing handles the full process. Contact jana@legalnotice.co.za. For background, see the executor’s deceased estate notice guide and the statutory requirements for estate notices.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is a J187 notice the same as a Section 29 notice?
A: No. The Section 29 notice (J193) is the first notice. It is the call to creditors. The J187 is the second notice. It is the call to inspect the Liquidation and Distribution account. Every full estate requires both.
Q: How long does a J187 notice run?
A: 21 days, counted from the later of the Government Gazette publication date and the newspaper publication date.
Q: Where can a J187 notice be published?
A: In the Government Gazette and in a compliant newspaper or digital newspaper circulating in the deceased’s last district. Legal Notice Publishing handles the full process. Contact jana@legalnotice.co.za.
Sources: Department of Justice Master forms, Chief Master’s Directives, Master of the High Court
