The Master of the High Court in Durban answers on 031 327 0600, email [email protected]. It is at 2 Devonshire Place, 2nd Floor, Durban, 4001.
It is open to the public only from 07h45 to 13h00. ContactDetails.co.za is an independent directory and is not the Department of Justice.
The counter closes at one o’clock
This is the detail that causes most wasted journeys, and it is published by the office itself. Public office hours are 07h45 to 13h00, not the standard government day. Arriving at two in the afternoon means coming back tomorrow.
Reporting a deceased estate takes time at the counter, so go early rather than close to closing, and take every document with you. A missing death certificate or identity document means a second trip.
Finding it: the street has two names
The office’s own address gives the location as 2 Devonshire Place, off Anton Lembede Street, and then adds Smith Street in brackets, because that is the street’s former name.
Durban renamed a great many central streets, and both names remain in use on signage, in older documents and in map applications. If a driver or an app does not recognise Anton Lembede Street, try Smith Street.
Verified contact details
Read from the Department of Justice website on 25 August 2026. The Department’s own page records it as updated 8 June 2026.
| Telephone | 031 327 0600 |
| [email protected] | |
| Physical address | 2 Devonshire Place, 2nd Floor, Durban, 4001 |
| Postal address | Private Bag X54325, Durban, 4000 |
| Public hours | 07h45 to 13h00 |
You never pay to report an estate
Reporting a deceased estate to the Master is free. No official may charge you, and no agent is needed to lodge it. Bereaved families are a favoured target for people offering to “handle the paperwork” for a fee taken from the estate.
An executor may be entitled to a regulated fee from the estate, which is a different thing entirely from paying someone up front to report it. If in doubt, phone the office on 031 327 0600 and ask before paying anyone anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Durban Master’s Office number?
031 327 0600, with email to [email protected].
What time does it close?
The public counter closes at 13h00. Go in the morning.