Estate Assist by Cloete Inc

13/07/2026

Have you been told to put your family home into a trust?

A family trust can be useful, but transferring your home or other assets into one may trigger capital gains tax, transfer duty, donations tax and ongoing administration costs.

You may also lose the primary residence capital gains tax exclusion.

Read what you should consider before transferring your assets:

https://estateassist.co.za/2026/07/13/family-trust-house-tax-implications/

Estate Assist by Cloete Inc
Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820

Practical and transparent deceased estate administration support for families, executors and authorised representatives. Estate Assist is a service by Cloete Inc.

03/07/2026

Can an executor use estate money to pay themselves legal fees?

This becomes especially concerning when the executor is also an attorney.

Beneficiaries are entitled to ask for proper answers, invoices and a clear explanation of what happened to the estate money.

Read more here:
https://estateassist.co.za/2026/07/03/executor-took-estate-money-for-legal-fees/

Estate Assist
Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820
[www.estateassist.co.za](http://www.estateassist.co.za)

Practical and transparent deceased estate administration support for families, executors and authorised representatives. Estate Assist is a service by Cloete Inc.

23/06/2026

Is the bank the executor of a deceased estate, but nothing seems to be happening?

Many families feel stuck when they cannot get proper updates, documents are repeatedly requested, or the estate appears to be standing still.

In some matters, it may be possible to obtain clarity, push the process forward, or even have the estate administration moved into more active hands if the correct process is followed.

Estate Assist by Cloete Inc assists families and heirs with practical deceased estate administration support.

Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820

Read more here:

Is the bank executor of a deceased estate but nothing is happening? Learn what heirs can do and how Estate Assist can help move the estate forward.

19/06/2026

Can an executor take an advance on their fees before a deceased estate is finalised?

Executor’s fees must be properly calculated, authorised and accounted for. An executor should not simply treat estate money as their own money or pay themselves without a proper explanation.

This becomes especially concerning where heirs are not given bank statements, supporting documents, a Liquidation and Distribution Account, or any clear explanation of how the fee was calculated.

We have prepared a short article explaining when executor’s fees may be taken, what heirs should ask for, and when early payments may become a serious concern:

https://estateassist.co.za/2026/06/19/executor-advance-on-fees/

Estate Assist by Cloete Inc assists families, heirs, executors and authorised representatives with practical deceased estate administration support.

Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820
Website: estateassist.co.za

18/06/2026

A deceased estate should not feel like a mystery to the heirs.

While an executor must follow the correct administration process, heirs should generally be kept properly informed about important estate matters, including progress, delays, documents still required, and the handling of estate funds.

Where an executor refuses to give any meaningful updates, cannot explain what is happening, or avoids basic questions about the estate, it may be time to get practical guidance.

Estate Assist by Cloete Inc assists families, heirs, executors and authorised representatives with deceased estate administration support, Master’s Office follow-ups and practical estate guidance.

Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820
Website: estateassist.co.za

11/06/2026

Should a deceased estate have a separate bank account?

One of the most important safeguards in estate administration is a clear paper trail showing what money came into the estate, what expenses were paid, and what amount remains available for distribution.

Heirs often become concerned when an executor refuses to provide proper updates, bank statements, proof of payments or a clear explanation of how estate funds were used.

We have prepared a short article explaining why a separate estate bank account is important, and whether heirs should be allowed to see estate bank statements:

https://estateassist.co.za/2026/06/11/estate-bank-account-statements/

Estate Assist by Cloete Inc assists families, heirs, executors and authorised representatives with practical deceased estate administration support.

Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820
Website: estateassist.co.za

05/06/2026

Is the executor of a deceased estate not giving feedback or not moving the estate forward?

Families often feel stuck when the person, bank or professional nominated as executor is slow, unresponsive or not progressing the administration of the estate.

In some cases, heirs may have practical options available, including requesting proper feedback, establishing the status of the estate, or considering whether another suitable person can be appointed where appropriate.

We have prepared a short article explaining what families can consider when an executor is not doing their job:

https://estateassist.co.za/2026/06/05/executor-not-doing-their-job/

Estate Assist by Cloete Inc assists families, heirs, executors and authorised representatives with practical deceased estate administration support.

Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820
Website: estateassist.co.za

27/05/2026

Deceased estate administration can become stressful when families are unsure what must happen next.

One of the most important early steps is to establish who has authority to deal with the estate. Banks, insurers and other institutions will usually require proper proof of appointment before they can release information or process estate matters.

Estate Assist by Cloete Inc assists families, executors and authorised representatives with practical deceased estate administration support, including reporting guidance, Master’s Office follow-ups, estate financial administration and finalisation support.

Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820
Website:

25/05/2026

We have published a new Estate Assist guide:

Letters of Authority vs Letters of Executorship in South Africa

These two documents are often confused, but they are not the same. The article explains the difference and why formal authority from the Master’s Office is important when dealing with a deceased estate.

Read the article here:
https://estateassist.co.za/2026/05/25/letters-of-authority-vs-letters-of-executorship/

For assistance with a deceased estate:

Phone / WhatsApp: 081 330 7820
Website: estateassist.co.za