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Here’s exactly how to place a legal notice in South Africa — step-by-step and including both options: the Government Gazette and online newspaper publication (like LegalNotice.co.za), which is now accepted under the Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2025.
Determine the type of legal notice
Different notices have different legal bases and formats. The most common are:
| Type | Form | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased Estate – Notice to Creditors | J193 | Informs creditors to lodge claims within 30 days. |
| Deceased Estate – L&D Account Inspection | J187 | Notifies the public that the Liquidation & Distribution Account is available for inspection for 21 days. |
| Curatorship / Insolvency / Section 34(1) | Varies | Used for sequestrations, business transfers, etc. |
Choose where to publish
You have two mandatory publication channels depending on the legal requirement:
A. Government Gazette (official legal record)
Required for many statutory notices.
- Publisher: Government Printing Works (GPW).
- Submit via: www.gpwonline.co.za/egazettes.
- Deadline: Usually Tuesdays 15:00 for that week’s Friday publication.
- Format: PDF form or email submission to submit.egazette@gpw.gov.za.
- Payment: EFT with proof of payment attached.
B. Online Newspaper (accepted by the Master of the High Court)
For deceased-estate notices and curatorship matters, you can publish through LegalNotice.co.za — fully compliant with the Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2025.
- Upload your J193 or J187 form or simply request a quote.
- Legal Notice formats, edits and sends proofs within 24 hours.
- You receive a proof of publication (URL + timestamp PDF) for the Master’s file.
Prepare your submission
You’ll need:
- The correct form (J193, J187, etc.).
- All estate details (names, ID, address, Master’s Office, estate number).
- Executor or agent contact details (name, address, email, phone).
- Publication date requested.
- Payment confirmation.
Confirm publication
After submission:
- The publisher (Legal Notice Publishing) will email a proof for approval.
- Once approved, the notice is published and a Certificate of Publication or URL proof is issued.
- This must be filed in the Master’s file as evidence of public notice.
Quick option — online placement
Visit: https://legalnotice.co.za/request-legal-notice-quote
There you can upload your details or request the form, and the team will format, proof and publish your notice in both the online newspaper and the Government Gazette.
