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01 Home Affairs Documents

Unabridged DeathCertificate

When you lose someone, the paperwork is the last thing you should have to worry about. We obtain the unabridged death certificate from Home Affairs on your behalf, the version needed to settle an estate, claim insurance and pensions, or use abroad, and we handle it with care.

Supporting families across Cape Town, Rivonia, and Pretoria.

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Preparing an unabridged death certificate application to settle an estate in South Africa
Handled With Care
02 What It Is

The certificate an estate needs

When a death is registered, Home Affairs issues an abridged death certificate free of charge. It is enough for some purposes, but not for most. For anything legal or financial, you will need the unabridged death certificate, the full version, applied for separately.

It is issued on form BI-132 and is the version required to wind up the estate and complete the important claims that follow. If it is needed overseas, it must also be apostilled or attested.

When the unabridged version is needed

  • Settling the deceased's estate
  • Life insurance and funeral policy claims
  • Pension and provident fund payouts
  • Transferring property and closing accounts
  • Use abroad, with an apostille or attestation

Applying on someone's behalf? If you are handling the estate as next of kin or executor, a power of attorney or an executor's letter from the Master of the High Court is usually required. We will tell you exactly what applies to your situation before anything is submitted.

03 Why Use Us

We take the paperwork off your hands

Grief and admin do not mix. You should not have to sit in Home Affairs queues or decode forms while you are grieving. We handle the application properly, and follow it through, so you can focus on your family.

We apply on your behalf

We complete and submit the BI-132 application, with the supporting documents, so it is correct the first time and not delayed by an error.

We guide the executor steps

If a power of attorney or an executor's letter is needed, we tell you clearly what to provide, so nothing holds the estate up.

We follow it through

Home Affairs timelines vary. We follow up on your behalf and keep you updated, so you are not left chasing an office during a hard time.

Ready for use abroad

If the certificate is needed in another country, we can arrange the apostille or attestation as registered DIRCO agents.

Let us handle the certificate, so you don't have to.

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04 How We Work

Our Process

  1. Gentle Consultation

    We confirm what you need the certificate for and what you already have, and explain the documents required, with no pressure.

  2. Application Prepared

    We complete the BI-132 application and check the supporting documents carefully before anything is submitted.

  3. Submission & Follow-Up

    We submit to Home Affairs and follow the application through, keeping you updated so you never have to chase it.

  4. Collection & Legalisation

    We collect the issued certificate and, if you need it abroad, arrange the apostille or attestation.

Prepared properly. Followed through. Handled with care.

05 Get Started

We're here to help you through it

Tell us what you need and we will take the certificate off your hands, from the Home Affairs application to collection, and the legalisation if it is needed abroad. Offices in Cape Town, Rivonia and Pretoria.

Speak to a Consultant

OVW Management Group is not a government agency and does not issue documents. We provide application, submission and collection support. Home Affairs fees and timelines are set by the Department of Home Affairs, and processing times depend on their workload. Please confirm current details with us or with Home Affairs.