South Africa, Orange Free State, Estate Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection of estate files from Orange Free State, South Africa includes the period from 1951 to 1973.

Record History
Estate files, created at the Master of the Supreme Court in Orange Free State, South Africa commenced in the year 1951. Not all deceased persons have estate files. Estate files are not opened for those who owned little or no assets, therefore these records cover only a certain percentage of the population. Estate file prior to 1951 may be found in the relevant Archives Repositories.

Why This Record Was Created
The purpose of the estate files at the Master’s Office is to administer the liquidation and distribution of the estates of deceased persons, administer trust property given under the control of any person by a deceased person, administer the property of minors and persons under curatorship, administer derelict estates, regulate the rights of beneficiaries under mutual wills made by any two or more persons. The Master’s Office keeps records for every estate within the jurisdiction of the Office, and documents are available for inspection and certified copies may be made for documents.

Record Reliability
The fullness and accuracy of the information appearing on death notices is dependent on the knowledge of the informant, often the next-of-kin. If the informant is not a family member, details may be sketchy. However, additional information may be added after the completion of the death notice, which is a reason for seeing all the papers in the file.

Record Description
Each estate file contains several documents; some files are extensive as others are smaller in size. These files may include death notices, death certificate, other vital records, wills, liquidation and distribution accounts, duty accounts, inventory of goods, acceptance of trust as executor, letters of administration, notary public documents, pension documents, bank and stocks documents, valuation of properties, other assets, etc. Documents are written in English and in Dutch. The estate files are arranged in chronological order and by the first letter of the surname. Groups of documents often span many years beyond the year of death of the deceased. The death notice is the most important piece of genealogical information in these files; it typically contains the full name of the deceased, date and place of death, birth place, age at death, nationality, parents, occupation, residence, marital status, spouse(s), children, if the deceased left any goods and a will. Cause of death is found only on the brief death certificate.

Record Content
The key genealogical facts found in most of the estate files death notices are: 


 * Full name of the deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Birth place
 * Age at death
 * Nationality
 * Parents’ names
 * Occupation
 * Residence
 * Marital status
 * Spouse(s) names
 * Children’s names
 * If the deceased left any goods and a will



How to Use the Record
The documents inside the estate files give much information about the deceased including personal details, those of his/her spouse(s), children and other beneficiaries. Addresses often also give clues to the researcher about where to find relatives of the deceased. It is suggested to look at all the documents in the file, not simply the death notice and will.

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Sources of This Collection
"South Africa, Orange Free State, Estate Files, 1951-1973", database, FamilySearch Record Search (http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch); from the Master of the Supreme Court in Bloemfontein, Free State (previously Orange Free State), South Africa.

How to Cite Your Sources
Instructions for citing this source can be found at: Cite Your Sources (Source Footnotes)