How to publish a legal notice in South Africa:

When handling a deceased estate in South Africa, publishing a legal notice is a non-negotiable step. Whether you’re an attorney, executor, or paralegal, you need to comply with the requirements of the Administration of Estates Act (Act 66 of 1965).

In this guide, we break down the notice publication process and show you how to do it fast, accurately and stress-free.

Get a quote or submit a notice by clicking here.

What is a legal notice in an estate?

Legal notices inform creditors and other interested parties about the administration of an estate. There are different types, but the most common are:

Section 29 Notices – inviting creditors to submit claims against the estate.
Section 35 Notices – notifying the public that the Liquidation and Distribution Account is available for inspection.

These notices must be published in an online newspaper that circulates in the relevant district where the deceased lived 12 months prior to passing and the Government Gazette.

Step-by-step: How to publish a legal notice

Step 1: Prepare your notice

The Master of the High Court will usually give you a sample or format for your notice. It must include:

Deceased’s full name and ID
Estate number
Date of death
Executor contact info
Address where documents are open for inspection

Notices must follow strict formatting rules – especially if submitted to the Government Gazette.

Step 2: Choose where to publish

To comply with the law, your notice must be published:

In an online newspaper circulating in the area where the deceased lived
In the Government Gazette
The notice must be able to be viewed free of charge

We place your notice in a national online newspaper in both Afrikaans and English, complying with the Chief Master’s Directive.

Step 3: Submit your notice

You can choose to handle the process yourself or use a legal notice publishing partner (like us) to format, proof and place the notices for you. This ensures no mistakes or rejections.

At LegalNotice.co.za, we:

Format your notice professionally
Submit to all required platforms
Provide a digital proof for your records

Step 4: Keep proof of publication

The Master may request copies of published notices. Always keep:

A PDF proof of the newspaper/Gazette publication
Any confirmations or correspondence

What if the notice is published late?

Failure to publish notices on time could delay the estate process — or worse, expose the executor to legal risk. Avoid the stress by planning this step early and getting it right the first time.

Need help?

We publish compliant, professional notices for executors and law firms across South Africa – fast.

📩 placement@legalnotice.co.za
🌐 www.legalnotice.co.za

Let us take care of the formatting, proofing and platform, so you can take care of your clients.