To consolidate and amend the law relating to the liquidation and distribution of the estates of deceased persons, the administration of the property of miners and persons under curatorship, and of derelict estates; to regulate the rights of beneficiaries under mutual wills made by any two or more persons; to amend the Mental Disorders Act, 1916; and to provide for incidental matters.

Latest Developments:

The Administration of Estates Act, 1965, (Act No. 66 of 1965) has been amended and updated by the Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2023, as per Notice No. 4597, GG50430 dated 3 April 2024.

The Administration of Estates Act, 1965 (Act No. 66 of 1965) has been amended by Regulations, Regulations in terms of Section 103 of the Administration of Estates Act, 1965, Schedules, Schedule 1: Forms, Notice No. 459 of 2018, dated 26 April 2018.

The Administration of Estates Act, 1965 (Act No. 66 of 1965) has been amended by Regulations, Regulations in terms of Section 103 of the Administration of Estates Act, 1965, Schedules, Schedule 2: Tariff of Master's Fees, Notice No. 1161 of 2017 dated 3 November 2017.

The Administration of Estates Act, 1965 (Act No. 66 of 1965) has been amended by the Judicial Matters Amendment Act (Act No. 8 of 2017), Gazette No. 41018 and Notice No. 770, dated 2 August 2017.

The Act has been amended by the Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2008 (Act No. 66 of 2008) as published in Government Gazette No. 31908 dated 17 February 2009.

The Act has been amended by the Judicial Matters Amendment Act No. 22 of 2005 (GG No. 28391 dated 11 January 2006).

Amended by the Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2003, (Act No. 16 of 2003), as published in Government Gazette No. 25196 dated 10 July 2003.

Updated by the Administration of Estates Amendment Act, 2002 (47 of 2002, GG 24152 dated 5 December 2002) which came into operation on 5 December 2002. This amendment adds section 2A and amends section 4 of the Act.

Updated by the Administration of Estates Law Interim Rationalisation Act, 2001 (Act 20 of 2001) as Gazetted on 20 July, 2001 in GG 22485.

This Act is available in PDF format at parliament.

Section 72 of the Act has been amended by the Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 2000 as gazeeted on 13-12-00 in GG21883. ("born out of wedlock" has been substituted for "illegitimate").

Section 6 of this Act has been amended by the Judicial Matters Amendment Act, 1999, as published in Government Gazette Notice No. 507, dated 28 April 1999.