e4 introduces digital estate management platform for South African legal sector

Digital transformation company launches Legatum system to address delays in deceased estate processing through automation and integrated compliance tools. Platform targets 102,300 estates requiring management annually across legal and financial professionals.

Andrea Carr, Head of R&D at e4.

e4, a digital transformation company, has announced the launch of Legatum, a digital deceased estate management system designed to address delays and inefficiencies in estate processing. The platform utilizes e4's automation capabilities, digital workflows and integrated compliance tools to manage estate administration for legal and financial professionals.

Managing deceased estates in South Africa involves attorneys, banks, insurers, SARS and the Master of the High Court. Manual processes and systems can lead to delays and administrative bottlenecks. With an estimated 102,300 estates requiring management annually, inefficiencies in the current system can result in wait times with financial implications for executors, legal professionals, and beneficiaries.

"The Master's Office is overwhelmed with backlogs where digital adoption has been slow. In addition, executors and legal professionals often still navigate complex, paper-based manual systems that are prone to errors, leading to unavoidable delays. Legatum takes a digital-first approach to streamline more processes faster, accurately and securely without compromising on the flexibility needed to manage complex estate matters," explains Andrea Carr, Head of R&D at e4.

Legatum integrates digital capabilities that automate steps in the deceased estate administration process. These include KYC-compliant validation of the deceased and heirs/beneficiaries, integrated advertising of estates and automated document generation for submission to the Master's Office. The platform also offers communication tools to reduce manual inputs and minimize the need to switch between systems.

"Losing someone is hard enough, wrapping up the estate shouldn't add to the burden. By applying our capability stack to an estate management platform, attorneys and executors are able to gently guide families through the legal and administrative process of honouring their loved ones legacies with less stress and fewer delays," explains Carr. The system utilizes e4 subsidiary SearchWorks' search capabilities to validate and verify details of individuals, properties and trusts related to an estate matter.

Through pre-populated data fields, the system reduces errors and enables attorneys and estate practitioners to verify assets, liabilities, and beneficiaries without manually sourcing this information or using various software systems to complete the administration process. A notification and alert system helps professionals track deadlines, while automated Liquidation and Distribution account generation reduces processing time. Document storage ensures records are accessible throughout the estate management process.

"Our aim was to develop a flexible system that enhances efficiency without imposing rigid workflows as no two estates are the same. Legatum is designed to adapt to the complexities of each case, whether it takes six months or several years to resolve. Legatum provides the attorney with a centralised platform automating aspects such as – but not limited to - advertising of full estates and the KYC verification feature, which immediately ensures that the firm is FIC compliant," says Grant Phillips, Group CEO of e4.

With National Wills Month approaching in September, agents can check that heirs and beneficiaries have updated, signed wills in place. Recording these within Legatum means the instructions are accessible when needed, helping to ensure legacies are carried out as intended.

Future enhancements

The launch of Legatum is the first phase of an innovation roadmap aimed at transforming estate management in South Africa. Enhancements will include direct integration with SARS for estate tax submissions, allowing executors to file electronically instead of relying on manual submission processes.

"As digital transformation gains momentum in the legal sector, Legatum is designed to evolve in step with regulatory changes and market needs," says Phillips. "Our vision is to create a truly connected ecosystem, reducing estate settlement times and offering a seamless, technology-driven approach to what has traditionally been a highly complex process."

Legatum addresses the gap between estate administration processes and digital capabilities. By introducing a solution that is data-driven, secure, and adaptable, e4 is helping legal and financial professionals navigate the complexities of estate management.

As the platform continues to grow, e4 remains committed to collaborating with industry stakeholders to ensure that Legatum meets the needs of estate practitioners, financial institutions, and regulators.