Trust establishment · Client intake
Please complete this form so we can draft your trust deed and register your trust with the Master of the High Court. It takes about ten minutes. Fields marked * are required; leave anything that doesn't apply blank.
Your information stays on your device. We store your answers securely when you send them to us. Until then, a draft stays on this device only. We handle it in confidence, in line with POPIA.
Section A
We register it as "The [name] Trust", so enter the core name only.
This decides where your trust is registered. A trust is lodged with the Master of the High Court in whose area the greatest portion of the trust assets is situated, so tell us where the bulk of the assets (property, business, investments) will sit. Getting this right first time avoids the delay of lodging at the wrong Master's office.
Section B
The person establishing the trust.
Section C
Your deed provides for two trustees and one independent trustee. The independent trustee may not be a beneficiary and may not be related to anyone in the trust.
Section D
Add each person or class who may benefit (e.g. "the children of the Founder"). At least one is required.
Beneficiary 1
Section E
Amount in rand (R)
Section F
Section G
Every trust must register with SARS for Income Tax, whether or not it's active. We use this to complete the IT77TR and lodge it via the SARS Online Query System or a branch appointment.
SARS requires one trustee to be nominated to act for the trust in all tax matters, usually one of the trustees listed above.
By ticking consent below, you mandate lawvero as your registered tax practitioner to complete, sign and submit the IT77TR and supporting documents to SARS on the trust's behalf.
Section H · Optional
A private, non-binding note guiding how you'd like the trustees to use their discretion. Answer only what's relevant.
Section I · Optional
Attach certified copies (within the last 3 months): IDs/passports and proof of address for the founder and trustees; IDs/birth certificates for beneficiaries; marriage certificate/antenuptial contract if married; proof of the trust's business address and of the Representative Taxpayer's residential address for SARS registration. Photos are fine: all four corners visible. JPG, PNG or PDF, max 10MB each.
Optional. You can still send without files and follow up later.
Section J
Check the summary below, then download it or send it through. Upload certified IDs, proof of address and any other supporting documents in the Supporting documents section above.
TRUST ESTABLISHMENT · CLIENT INTAKE A. THE PROPOSED TRUST Preferred trust name: - Alternative name: - Purpose of the trust: - Probable duration: - Area where the bulk of the trust assets will be held: - B. THE FOUNDER Full names & surname: - ID / passport no.: - Email address: - Contact number: - Residential address: - Marital status: - If married, marital regime: - Income tax number: - C. TRUSTEES Trustee 1 Full names & surname: - ID / passport no.: - Occupation / profession: - Also a beneficiary?: - Experience administering trusts: - Trustee 2 Full names & surname: - ID / passport no.: - Occupation / profession: - Also a beneficiary?: - Experience administering trusts: - Independent trustee Full names & surname: - ID / passport no.: - Occupation / profession: - Confirms independence: - D. BENEFICIARIES Beneficiary 1: - | - | Income & capital | Minor: No E. INITIAL DONATION & ASSETS Donation amount, numerals: - Donation amount, in words: - Assets to be transferred into the trust (if any): - F. AUDITOR & OTHER CONTROL Will the trust appoint an auditor/accountant?: - Auditor / accountant name & contact: - Any other person who ultimately controls the trust: - G. INCOME TAX REGISTRATION (SARS) Is the trust already registered for Income Tax?: - If yes, existing Income Tax reference no.: - Nature of business: - Financial year end: - Will the trust be trading?: - If trading, liable for provisional tax?: - Representative Taxpayer (Main Trustee for SARS) Which trustee will be the Representative Taxpayer?: - Date of appointment: - Trust bank account (for SARS refunds, if already opened) Bank name: - Branch name & branch no.: - Account number: - Account type: - Account holder name (as registered at the bank): - H. LETTER OF WISHES Priorities between beneficiaries: - Intentions for education, maintenance or support: - Business or asset succession wishes: - Values or principles for the trustees to bear in mind: - I. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS Supporting documents: none attached J. CONSENT Consent: No
lawvero (Pty) Ltd provides document preparation services and does not provide legal, tax or financial advice. Trust deeds and Master's filings are prepared from your instructions. By submitting you consent to lawvero processing this information to prepare your quote and documents (POPIA). Contact office@lawvero.co.za. © lawvero (Pty) Ltd 2026 · law, verified.