By appointing a qualified Pioneer advisor as executor of your estate, we will effectively and efficiently administer your estate under our consistent and unending knowledge and experience.
The correct administration of the deceased estate is essential in ensuring that their last will is filled out in exact accordance with their last wishes. If the proper procedure of managing the estate of the departed is not carried out in a professional and legal manner there is a high possibility that the will's wishes would be brought into disrepute.
The administration of the departed estate is not something that anyone looks forward to. It can be a convoluted process, without the proper guidance. With the stress of a loved one passing the last thing you want is to get caught in the red tape of dispersing of your loved one's goods. The quicker and more effectively the deceased's estate is managed the better for all to start coming to terms with their loved one's passing.
With the wide variance of activities that is unique to each person circumstances the administration of a deceased estate is always different. At Pioneer we have extensive exposure to all of these circumstances and have the experience and compassion to deal with the delicate administration of your loved one's estate.
Allow us at Pioneer to assist you in the time of loss and by assisting in the administration of the deceased estate help bring closure to you and your family.
The administration of an estate entails a large number of activities which differ from case to case. The sequence in which the various steps are carried out will not be exactly the same for each estate. The following is a summary of the administration process for the "normal type" of estate:
A first interview with the relatives to obtain essential information and to have documentation signed
Reporting the estate by lodging the death notice, inventory, original will and the acceptance of trust as executor with the Master
The opening of a main file and sub-files for correspondence, documents, assets, liabilities, cheque account and the liquidation and distribution account
Letters to creditors and debtors in order to determine claims for and against the estate
Obtaining valuations of moveable and immoveable estate assets
The completion and submission of an income tax return
Receipt of the letters of executorship
Placement of the notice to creditors in the Government Gazette and in a newspaper
Opening an estate cheque account
Determining whether the estate is solvent and determining a suitable method of administration in consultation with the beneficiaries
The collection of sufficient cash; payment of debts
The preparation and submission of the liquidation and distribution account (sometimes also referred to as the "executor's account" or the "estate account") and the preparation of the estate duty return.
The placement of a notice in the Government Gazette and in a newspaper to the effect that the liquidation and distribution account is lying open for inspection
The payment of any outstanding debt. The payment and/or transfer of legacies and inheritances to beneficiaries
The payment of master's fees
The payment of estate duty, if the estate is dutiable
