Estate Winding-Up Cost Calculator
Everything the estate pays before anyone inherits. Some of these are fixed by law and cannot be negotiated. Others are quotes and can be. This separates the two so you know which is which.
Total assets before debts. This drives both the executor's fee and the Master's fee.
Married in community of property? Enter the whole joint estate, not the deceased's half. The executor administers all of it, and both the executor's fee and the Master's fee are normally assessed on the joint estate. Ask any provider quoting you which base they have used. More on joint estates.
Zero if there is no property, or if it is being sold rather than transferred to an heir.
3.5% is the statutory maximum. Drop it to see what a negotiated rate saves.
Rent, interest or dividends earned during the administration. Attracts a separate 6% fee.
Bank charges on the estate account run for the whole administration.
Property, a business interest, or anything the Master will want a defensible figure for.
Estimated total
| Cost | Low | High | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executor's remuneration (incl VAT) 3.5% of gross assets, plus 6% of post-death income, plus 15% VAT | R60 375 | R60 375 | Capped by statute, negotiable below the cap |
| Master's fee Nil under R250 000. R600 to R400 000, then R200 per further R100 000, capped at R7 000 | R2 800 | R2 800 | Fixed by regulation, not negotiable |
| Gazette and newspaper notices Two of each: the section 29 creditors notice and the section 35 inspection notice | R1 080 | R5 240 | Publisher rate cards, shop around on the newspaper |
| Valuation / sworn appraisal Only where an asset needs a defensible value | R0 | R0 | Quote |
| Conveyancing and Deeds Office Estimate only. No transfer duty is payable on an inheritance. | R0 | R0 | Recommended tariff, get a written quote |
| Estate bank account charges 12 months of account fees | R720 | R2 160 | Bank pricing, compare before opening |
| Certified copies, courier, Home Affairs Death certificates, certified IDs, postage | R200 | R1 000 | Incidental |
| Total | R65 175 | R71 575 |
Ranges are wide on purpose. Newspaper advertising in particular varies by an order of magnitude between a community title and a metro daily. Statutory figures verified 15 August 2026; the market ranges are indicative and should be replaced with real quotes.
What is NOT in this figure
These are separate liabilities of the estate rather than costs of administering it, and any of them can dwarf the administration cost:
- The deceased's debts, including a bond, credit cards and personal surety given for a business.
- Income tax owing on the deceased's final return to the date of death.
- Capital gains tax on the deemed disposal at death, which frequently exceeds estate duty.
- Estate duty, where the dutiable amount exceeds the abatement. See our estate duty calculator.
- Municipal arrears that have to be settled before a rates clearance certificate is issued.
- An accrual claim by a surviving spouse, which ranks as a creditor's claim.
- A maintenance claim by a surviving spouse or dependent child.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to wind up an estate in South Africa?
For a straightforward estate expect roughly 4% to 7% of the gross value once the executor's fee, Master's fee and advertising are added up, and more where property has to be transferred. An estate under R250,000 handled under section 18(3) can cost almost nothing.
Are the Master's fees negotiable?
No. They are fixed by regulation on a sliding scale: nothing under R250,000, R600 from R250,000 to R400,000, a further R200 per completed R100,000 above that, capped at R7,000.
Is transfer duty payable when I inherit a house?
No. Property acquired by inheritance is exempt from transfer duty. You still pay conveyancing fees and Deeds Office fees, and any municipal arrears must be settled to get the rates clearance certificate.
Who pays these costs?
The estate, out of estate assets, before anything is distributed to heirs. They are not a personal cost of the executor or of the beneficiaries.
Can I reduce the cost?
Yes, in three places: negotiate the executor's rate before the will is signed, choose the newspaper for the statutory notices on circulation rather than prestige, and use the section 18(3) process where the estate qualifies for it.
Why is the fee charged on the gross value and not what I actually inherit?
Because the tariff is written that way. It is 3.5% of the gross value of assets, so a bonded property attracts a fee on its full value even where the equity is small. It is one of the strongest arguments for negotiating the rate down.
Where these figures come from
- Master's fees tariff, Government Gazette 41224 of 3 November 2017, effective 1 January 2018 - Schedule 2 to the Administration of Estates Regulations
- Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965, sections 29, 35 and 51
- Master of the High Court: reporting a deceased estate
Related
This page is general information about South African law, not legal, tax or financial advice, and it does not create any professional relationship. Every estate is different and the outcome can turn on facts not covered here. Figures verified 15 August 2026 against the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965, the Estate Duty Act 45 of 1955, the Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987, the Wills Act 7 of 1953, the Master of the High Court and SARS. Rates and thresholds change. Before you act on anything here, confirm it with the Master's office handling the estate or with an attorney.