As of 1 April, the Masters’ Offices in Johannesburg and Pretoria no longer accept paper-based submissions for an inter vivos trust.
Instead, everything is done through a new online platform.
This followed the issuing of Directive 2 of 2025 on 27 March by the chief master, marking the start of a digital transformation at the Master’s Offices.
An inter vivos trust, or “living trust,” is a legal arrangement created during a person’s lifetime, to manage and protect assets for beneficiaries.
Unlike testamentary trusts, which are created in a will and come into effect after death, inter vivos trusts are active while the founder is still alive.
These new developments will be beneficial to any person considering setting up a trust.
These include the addition of QR codes on all new letters of authority issued by the Master’s Office.
While it may seem like a minor change, it is a big step forward in ensuring the authenticity and validity of all letters of authority. The QR code will allow banks, attorneys, and government departments to instantly confirm the validity of the letter of authority of a trust.
This change was implemented on 18 March to make the process of streamlining interaction with third parties easier, as well as to prevent fraud.
Another major change is the shift from a manual submission to a fully online system when registering new inter vivos trusts. A trustee or the representative can upload documents, track the progress of their application, and receive feedback directly from the Master’s Office, all without needing to set foot in a government building.
For the time being, this only applies to the Masters’ Offices in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Since the new developments to the online system are only
applicable for creating an inter vivos trust, a manual submission for testamentary trusts and amendments to existing trusts still apply.
There is currently no timeline for when other trust processes will be fully implemented on the digital system or when the online platform will be rolled out to other provinces.
Despite the lack of a timeline, these new developments are a clear indication that the Master’s Office is committed to improving service delivery, reducing red tape, and protecting trustees and beneficiaries.
For trustees and their representatives, these changes mean less time spent dealing with administrative hurdles and more time focusing on the core responsibilities of managing a trust.
These offices are there to support trustees.
Whether they are registering a new trust, verifying a letter of authority, searching for an independent trustee, or simply requiring assistance understanding a client’s duties as a trustee, they are ready to assist.
