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If you need to publish a Notice to Creditors advert for a deceased estate in South Africa, the requirement comes from Section 29 of the Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965. The executor must call on creditors and debtors of the estate to lodge or settle claims, and the Notice to Creditors advert must appear in the Government Gazette and an online newspaper, such as Nuusflits. Both publications are statutory and run concurrently for 30 days.
Also read: Form J193 Notice to Creditors — full statutory requirements.
What the Notice to Creditors advert must contain
Form J193 prescribes the wording. The advert must identify the deceased by full name, identity number and last address, give the date of death, and call on creditors and debtors to lodge or settle claims with the executor within 30 days. The executor’s name, postal address and reference must appear so creditors know where to write.
Where the Notice to Creditors advert is published
Section 29 requires publication in the Government Gazette and in one or more newspapers circulating in the district where the deceased ordinarily resided in the twelve months preceding death. In current practice, the second publication runs in an online newspaper, such as Nuusflits, which has national reach across all nine provinces and satisfies the circulation requirement on a digital basis.
How long the J193 advert runs
The Notice to Creditors advert runs for 30 days from the date of publication. Creditors must lodge their claims against the estate within this window. The executor cannot finalise the Liquidation and Distribution Account, or proceed to lodge it with the Master of the High Court, before the 30 days have lapsed.
Common errors that delay the Notice to Creditors advert
Returns from the Master’s Office often trace back to identity number errors, omitted executor details, addresses that do not match the Letters of Executorship or a publication date that pre-dates appointment. A compliant draft and a clean proof from both publications avoid all of these.
Frequently asked questions
Can the advert appear before Letters of Executorship are issued?
No. The executor signs and lodges the J193 in their official capacity. The publication date should fall after the issue date on your Letters of Executorship, otherwise the notice is open to challenge.
Does the J193 still need a print newspaper?
The Section 29 newspaper requirement is satisfied by an online newspaper that meets the circulation test. Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2025, read with Chief Master’s Directive 1 of 2020, recognises online publication on this basis.
Legal Notice Publishing handles the full process for you. Contact jana@legalnotice.co.za or click here.
