Call us now:
Onah Attorneys Inc • Johannesburg
Wills & Estates Attorneys in Johannesburg – Secure the Next Generation
Johannesburg’s Master’s Office processes more deceased estates than any other in the country — and families who arrive unprepared wait longest. We draft wills that hold, administer estates with relentless Master’s follow-up, and build trusts that keep Johannesburg families’ wealth structured across generations. Plan while it’s cheap; we also litigate when planning was skipped.
Call 011 042 8039Free Case AssessmentWhen you need wills and estates attorneys in Johannesburg
Drafting or updating a will after marriage, divorce or children
A family member has died — estate must be reported within 14 days
Executor duties you’ve been nominated for and can’t carry alone
Estates stuck at the Johannesburg Master’s Office
Family trusts for asset protection and estate duty planning
Testamentary trusts so minors don’t inherit via the Guardian’s Fund
Disputes between heirs or challenges to a will
Maintenance claims against an estate by a surviving spouse
How we handle your matter
Estate snapshot
Assets, debts, policies, marriage regime, family structure — the will must fit the estate. We map it before we draft a word.
Will drafting & execution
Plain-language drafting, correct witnessing under the Wills Act — where DIY wills fatally fail — and safe custody of the original.
Estate reporting
On death we report to the Johannesburg Master within 14 days, lodge the will and inventory and obtain Letters of Executorship.
Administration
Creditors advertised, assets collected and valued, SARS finalised, the Liquidation & Distribution account lodged — with heirs updated at every stage, not left in silence.
Distribution
Cash paid, property transferred by our conveyancers duty-free, the estate closed with the Master’s filing slip. Done properly, once.
Fees — transparent, agreed upfront
Wills are a modest fixed fee — often waived where we’re appointed executor. Estate administration follows the statutory tariff (3.5% of gross assets) with negotiated reductions on larger estates; small estates (under R250,000) run as fixed-fee Section 18(3) matters.
Key legislation:
- Wills Act 7 of 1953
- Administration of Estates Act 66 of 1965
- Intestate Succession Act 81 of 1987
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I die without a will in Johannesburg?
The Intestate Succession Act decides your heirs, the Master appoints an executor, and minors’ inheritances go to the state Guardian’s Fund — slower, costlier, and nothing like what most people would have chosen.
How long does the Johannesburg Master take?
Letters of Executorship typically take 4–12 weeks depending on backlog; full estates 9–18 months. Complete, correctly formatted lodgements and persistent follow-up are what move files here.
Can I disinherit my spouse or children?
Freedom of testation is real but bounded — a surviving spouse can claim maintenance under the Maintenance of Surviving Spouses Act, and minor children always keep maintenance claims against the estate.
What makes a will invalid?
Missing signatures, witnesses who are beneficiaries, pages unsigned, amendments uninitialled. We see Johannesburg families litigate these failures every month — execution formalities are the whole game.
Should my family home go into a trust?
Sometimes — protection and continuity versus transfer costs and lending complexity. We run the numbers for your actual estate rather than selling a structure.
A relative died and the family is fighting — what first?
Secure the original will, report the estate within 14 days, and take advice before anyone moves assets. Early legal structure prevents most estate wars from starting.
Speak to an Attorney Today
Get straight answers about wills and estates attorneys in Johannesburg from a firm that fights to win. First consultation — no obligation, full confidentiality.
Call 011 042 8039 Request a Callback