Deceased Estate Lawyers

WINDING UP AN ESTATE IS HARD ENOUGH WITHOUT THE PAPERWORK. LET US CARRY IT.

When someone dies, their estate has to be reported to the Master of the High Court within 14 days. We handle the reporting, the executorship and the full winding up, so your family can deal with the loss instead of chasing forms.

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Why Families Choose Us

With 60+ years of estate work behind us, we offer:

  • Attorneys who do this every week. We are in the Master’s Office regularly, and we know what makes a file move and what makes it sit.
  • Fees you know up front. The executor’s fee is prescribed by law, not invented by us. We explain what the estate will cost before you commit to anything.
  • We can act either way. Appoint us as executor, or keep the executor named in the will and let us do the work behind them.

What We Handle

✔ Reporting the Estate. Lodging the death notice, the original will and the inventory with the Master of the High Court, within the 14-day deadline.

✔ Letters of Executorship. Obtaining the appointment that allows anyone to lawfully deal with the assets at all. For smaller estates, Letters of Authority instead.

✔ Liquidation and Distribution Account. Drafting, advertising and lodging the account the Master requires before a single cent can be paid to an heir.

✔ Creditors, SARS and Debts. Advertising for creditors, settling what the estate owes, and finalising the deceased’s tax affairs properly.

✔ Transfer and Distribution. Transferring fixed property, closing accounts, claiming policies, and paying the heirs what they are due.

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Deadlines Are Critical – Act Now

Delay in an estate costs the family money. Waiting can mean:

Missing the 14 day deadline to report the estate to the Master
Bank accounts frozen, with nobody lawfully able to release funds to the family
Property standing empty while rates and levies mount, and policies going unclaimed
A file that stalls at the Master's Office for months because the paperwork went in wrong the first time

Let's Start Today

Every legal matter has a deadline — and delaying action could cost you money, rights, or peace of mind. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start protecting what matters most to you. 

Take control of your situation today.

Let's Review Your Case

"Thank you for making this process as easy as possible, it really was great to have a team on hand to answer all my questions and help resolve the mountains of paper work that comes with losing a loved one."

– Satisfied Client

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We’ve Expanded to Cape Town

With offices now in Durban and Cape Town, Berkowitz Cohen Wartski Attorneys is better positioned to assist clients across South Africa with accessible, professional legal services.