If the person who died lived in Durban or the surrounding coastal region, their deceased estate is reported to the Master of the High Court, Durban.
Address, phone numbers, documents, and what the mornings-only hours mean for your visit, all below.
Local Master's Office guide
Before you visit the Durban office, get the address, documents, and follow-up plan clear
A complete lodgement pack and written follow-up trail matter more than repeated trips to the counter.
- Confirm jurisdiction: the office depends on where the deceased ordinarily lived.
- Bring the estate pack: death notice, death certificate, will, inventory, and ID documents.
- Use the estate number: quote it on every follow-up.
- Keep proof: written queries and responses move files faster than verbal promises.
Contact details
Durban Master's Office contact details
- Physical address: 2 Devonshire Place (off Anton Lembede Street, formerly Smith Street), 2nd Floor, Durban, 4001
- Postal address: Private Bag X54325, Durban, 4000
- Docex: Master of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, DOCEX 218, Durban
- Telephone: 031 327 0600
- Email: MasterDurban@justice.gov.za
- Public hours: 07h45, 13h00
Details as published by the Department of Justice; always confirm before travelling.
Jurisdiction and services
What this office handles
- Deceased estates of people who ordinarily lived in the Durban area
- Letters of Executorship and Letters of Authority (which one do you need?)
- Trust registrations (trust registration explained)
- Guardian's Fund matters for minors and untraced heirs
KZN has two Master's offices: Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The deceased's home address decides which one, Durban metro and surrounds here, Midlands and inland KZN in Pietermaritzburg.
Useful local touch: the Durban office publishes its own deceased estate reporting checklist, ask for it, use it, tick every box before you queue.
Document pack
Documents to bring when reporting an estate
- Death notice (J294)
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- The original will (if there is one)
- Inventory of assets (J243)
- Acceptance of trust as executor (J190), two signed copies
- Certified copy of the executor's ID
- Marriage certificate / antenuptial contract details, including customary marriage details where applicable
- Next-of-kin affidavit (J192) if there's no will
The full plain-language explanation of each: our complete Master of the High Court guide
What to expect
What to expect at the Durban office
- Mornings only (07h45,13h00). Arrive at opening. An 11h00 arrival on a busy day is a gamble.
- Durban consistently rates among the better-reviewed Master's offices, but "better" still means queues, queries and follow-ups. The rules don't change: complete pack, first time, then chase.
- Email actually exists here (MasterDurban@justice.gov.za), use it to create a paper trail for every follow-up.
Handled for you
Or let us handle the Durban estate process
We administer estates across KwaZulu-Natal daily. Complete lodgements, persistent follow-up with the Durban Master, coordinated property transfers, and one dedicated case manager your family can actually reach.
Quick answers
Questions about the Durban Master's Office
Where is the Master of the High Court in Durban?
2 Devonshire Place, off Anton Lembede (Smith) Street, 2nd Floor, Durban.
What are the office hours?
07h45 to 13h00 for the public, mornings only.
Durban or Pietermaritzburg, which office is mine?
Wherever the deceased ordinarily lived: Durban metro see Durban; Midlands/inland see Pietermaritzburg.
Can I email the Durban Master?
Yes, MasterDurban@justice.gov.za. Always include the estate number and keep copies of every exchange.
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