Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Step 1: At death
Your first step is to approach the funeral home, which will guide you through the process of arranging the funeral
and will obtain the death certificate on your behalf. The funeral is usually the first cost you face. You should expect
to pay at least R8 000 for the most modest funeral, and you are likely to be offered a 10% discount for paying
upfront.
If you pay, you can claim the cost from the deceaseds estate. If you cannot afford the outlay, you can arrange for
the funeral home to submit the invoice to the executor for payment. By the time the death certificate is issued
you should have established whether or not a will exists, and have put the deceaseds papers and documents in
order.
Choosing an executor
The person you name as executor - in most instances, your spouse - does not personally have to comply with all
the legal processes and can approach a professional, such as an attorney or an accountant, or a trust company, to
deal with the day-to-day logistics of administering your estate.
It is a good idea to name an alternative person as executor in case the person you nominate is unable to take
on the task or is no longer around. Bear in mind the age of the person you name as executor. If you are 50 years
old, there is not much point in making an 80-year-old executor.
If for some reason, the person named as executor refuses to accept the task, another person or organisation can
apply for the role, but they have to convince the Master of the High Court why they should be appointed. Generally,
the Master prefers an executor who stands to inherit from the estate, and the primary beneficiary is preferable.
All the beneficiaries of an estate are asked to consent to the new executor, and, in the case of a dispute, the Master
may appoint joint executors, such as a brother and a sister.
Regulatory information:
Old Mutual Corporate is a division of Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (South Africa) Limited, Jan Smuts Drive, Pinelands, 7405, South Africa. Registration no:
1999/004643/06. A licensed financial services provider authorized in terms of the Financial Advisery and Intermediary Services Act, 2002, to furnish advice and render
intermediary services with regard to long-term insurance and pension fund benefits, as well as providing intermediary services as a discretionary investment manager.
Please note that this license does not cover the marketing of this product by persons other than Old Mutual and its staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that this
document and the products referred to, meet the statutory and regulatory requirements, pertaining to the manner and format in which information regarding financial
products is presented. However, should you become aware of any breach of such statutory and regulatory requirements, please address the matter in writing to: The
Compliance Officer, Old Mutual Corporate, P O Box 728, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa.