Estate Assist by Cloete Inc

27/10/2026

💰 **Where did the estate money go?**

When we are called in to assist with a deceased estate that has gone wrong, one of the first questions we usually ask an heir is:

**“Have you been given access to the deceased estate bank statements?”**

We do not mean that heirs should be able to operate the estate bank account.

We mean something much simpler:

Can the money coming into and going out of the estate actually be explained?

Many of the articles we publish come from real problems we have had to deal with in deceased estates — unexplained payments, missing information, family members being kept in the dark and, in more serious cases, estate funds that appear to have been improperly dealt with.

That is why we strongly believe that estate administration should be:

**Open. Transparent. Accountable.**

Good estate administration should be capable of being explained.

If money was received from the sale of an asset, there should be a record of it.

If money was paid out, there should be a reason and supporting documentation.

And if heirs are repeatedly told that there is “no money left”, it is reasonable to ask:

**Where did it go?**

In our latest article, we explain why estate bank statements are so important, what they can reveal, what warning signs we look for and why transparency protects both heirs and honest executors.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://estateassist.co.za/2026/10/27/deceased-estate-bank-statements-south-africa/

Estate Assist – Cloete Inc

22/09/2026

🏡 WHEN AN INHERITANCE GETS COMPLICATED

Several properties. An investment portfolio. A share in the family business.

An inheritance may look substantial on paper—but who is looking after its value while the estate is being wound up?

For families dealing with complex deceased estates, important questions often arise:

▪️ Who is collecting the rental income and paying the expenses?
▪️ What did the deceased own personally, and what belongs to a company, CC or trust?
▪️ How are business interests valued?
▪️ What happens when one heir wants to sell and another wants to keep an asset?
▪️ What is holding up the administration?

Valuable assets need careful administration, reliable financial records and clear accountability.

In the first article of our new series, we explore the practical challenges of deceased estates involving properties, investments and business interests.

📖 Read the full article:
https://estateassist.co.za/2026/09/22/complex-deceased-estates-south-africa/

Does your family’s estate involve multiple properties, investments or business interests? Send Estate Assist a private message with a brief description of the estate and your contact number so we can discuss the assistance required.

02/09/2026

🏠 The estate owns a house — so why is there no money to pay the bills?

This is one of the most confusing situations families encounter in deceased estates.

A person may pass away owning a house worth R2 million or more — yet the estate may have almost no cash available.

Meanwhile, there may still be:

• Municipal arrears
• A home loan or bond
• SARS liabilities
• Executor’s fees and administration costs
• Transfer and property-related expenses
• Other creditors that still need to be paid

So what happens when the estate is valuable on paper, but cash-poor?

Do the heirs have to pay these costs personally?

Can the executor sell the property?

And what happens if an heir wants to keep the family home?

We explain how these situations are generally dealt with in South African deceased estates — and why it is important to understand where the shortfall comes from before simply paying money into an estate.

👉 Read the full article here:
https://estateassist.co.za/2026/09/02/deceased-estate-no-cash-south-africa/

If you are dealing with a deceased estate and are unsure about the assets, debts, administration costs or what needs to happen next, Estate Assist can assist.

17/08/2026

💰 Trying to Avoid Executor’s Fees? The Tax Bill Could Cost You Far More.

When someone dies, families understandably want to keep the cost of winding up the estate as low as possible.

But sometimes that leads to dangerous shortcuts.

Perhaps the deceased owned a property through a company or close corporation, and somebody suggests simply changing the members or directors rather than properly administering the deceased estate.

It may appear to work.

Sometimes for years.

Then the property needs to be sold, SARS becomes involved, a conveyancer starts investigating the ownership history, or somebody discovers that historic tax returns were never dealt with.

Suddenly the shortcut becomes a very expensive problem.

A deceased estate can involve far more than simply reporting the death to the Master. Depending on the circumstances, there may also be:

▪️ Capital gains tax consequences
▪️ Estate duty
▪️ Outstanding income tax returns
▪️ Tax on income earned after death
▪️ Valuations of companies or close corporations
▪️ Historic SARS liabilities
▪️ Complicated ownership issues involving property or businesses

And where an estate was never properly dealt with, those problems can sometimes pass from one generation to the next.

The important question should therefore not simply be:

“How can we avoid executor’s fees?”

It should be:

“What is the most cost-effective lawful way to administer the estate and deal with its tax obligations?”

Our latest Estate Assist article looks at why estate and tax planning need to be dealt with together — and why ignoring the tax side of a deceased estate can become very expensive later.

👇 Read the full article:

https://estateassist.co.za/2026/08/17/deceased-estate-tax-south-africa/

Already administering an estate but struggling with the SARS or tax side?

Estate Assist can also assist executors and estate administrators specifically with deceased-estate tax calculations, historic returns, estate duty, capital gains tax and SARS administration without taking over the entire estate.

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

03/08/2026

🏠 ONE HEIR TOOK OVER THE FAMILY HOME — CAN THE ESTATE CLAIM RENT?

A family member dies and leaves behind a house intended to benefit several heirs.

One heir then moves into the property, changes the locks, excludes everyone else and refuses to pay rent.

They may argue:

“I am also an heir, so I have every right to live here.”

But being an heir does not automatically give someone the right to take exclusive control of estate property.

In our latest article, we explain:

✅ Whether an heir may live in the deceased’s house rent-free
✅ When the estate can claim occupational rent or damages
✅ Whether the amount can be deducted from the heir’s inheritance
✅ What happens if the heir paid rates, repairs or maintenance
✅ Whether the executor can evict an uncooperative occupier
✅ What the other heirs can do if the executor refuses to act

Read the full article here:

https://estateassist.co.za/2026/08/03/heir-live-deceased-house-without-paying-rent/

If an heir has taken control of estate property, is excluding the other beneficiaries or is preventing the estate from being finalised, Estate Assist can help assess the position and explain the available options.

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

26/07/2026

🏠 CAN AN EXECUTOR SELL THE FAMILY HOME WITHOUT THE HEIRS’ CONSENT?

A family member passes away, and before long the executor announces that the house is going to be sold.

But what happens if the heirs do not agree?

Can the executor simply sell the property anyway?
Can one heir stop the sale?
What if the house was specifically left to someone in the will?
And what if the estate needs the money to pay its debts?

The answer is not always straightforward.

South African estate law requires the executor to administer the estate properly, but the rights and views of the affected heirs must also be considered.

In our latest article, we explain:

✅ When an executor may need to sell estate property
✅ Whether the heirs must approve the sale
✅ What happens when the heirs disagree
✅ Whether an heir can keep the family home
✅ What to do if the property is being sold below market value
✅ Warning signs that heirs should not ignore

Read the full article here:

https://estateassist.co.za/2026/07/26/https-estateassist-co-za-2026-07-26-executor-sell-house-without-heirs-consent/

If you are concerned about how a deceased estate property is being handled, Estate Assist can help you understand the process and assess whether the executor is acting correctly.

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