Letters of Authority
Pretoria
Streamlined assistance for small deceased estates under R250,000. Section 18(3) reporting, lodgement and collection — fixed fee, no retainer.
What are Letters of Authority?
Letters of Authority are issued by the Master of the High Court under section 18(3) of the Administration of Estates Act. They appoint a “Master’s representative” to wind up a small estate without going through the full executorship process.
This is the simpler, faster path for estates under R250,000. The representative can close the deceased’s bank account, transfer small assets, and distribute the proceeds to heirs.
Letters of Authority vs Letters of Executorship
| Letters of Authority | Letters of Executorship | |
|---|---|---|
| Estate value | Under R250,000 | R250,000 or more |
| Includes immovable property? | No | Often yes |
| Appointed person | Master’s representative | Executor |
| Typical timeline | 3–6 weeks | 8–12 weeks (plus winding up) |
| Liquidation & Distribution account? | Not required | Required |
| Our fee | R3,500 fixed | From R4,500 |
What counts as a small estate?
A small estate is one where the gross value at the date of death is less than R250,000 and the estate does not include immovable property in the deceased’s sole name.
If the estate is even slightly over R250,000, or if there is a property to transfer, Letters of Executorship are required instead.
Who can apply?
Documents required
Tip: If you are not sure whether the estate qualifies, send us the asset list and we’ll confirm at no charge.
Our process
Free triage call
10 minutes by phone. We confirm small-estate qualification and email a tailored checklist.
Document collection
You send scans by email or WhatsApp. We verify and prepare the reporting pack.
Pretoria lodgement
We lodge the section 18(3) pack at the Pretoria Master’s Office and follow up weekly.
Letters collected and delivered
Once issued, we collect the Letters of Authority and courier or email them to you.
Pricing
| Service | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|
| Section 18(3) full handling (small estate) | R3,500 |
| Reporting pack only (you lodge) | R2,500 |
| Single lodgement attendance | R750 |
| Document collection (Letters) | R750 |
| Master’s query response | R950 per query |
| Estate Late bank account opening pack | R950 |
Common questions
Can a bank release funds with Letters of Authority?
Yes. Letters of Authority give the appointed Master’s representative legal capacity to close the deceased’s bank account and receive the funds, provided the account balance falls within the small-estate threshold.
What if the estate is slightly over R250,000?
Letters of Authority are not available. The full Letters of Executorship process must be followed. We can advise on borderline cases — sometimes it is worth deferring final valuation to keep the estate under the threshold.
Are Letters of Authority enough to transfer property?
No. If the deceased owned property in their sole name, Letters of Executorship are required for transfer through the deeds office, regardless of value.
How long does it take?
Typically 3–6 weeks from a clean lodgement, considerably faster than the full Letters of Executorship process.
Small estate to wind up?
Call 087 001 0733 or email admin@louwrens-koen.co.za.
Start your application