Deeds registries do not keep original documentation/title deeds/mortgage bonds.

Legal steps to followed in the winding up of a deceased estate, that is, transfer of property from the name of a deceased to her/his descendants:
1. Reporting the death to the Master of the High Court that serves the area in which the property concerned is situated.
2. Master appoints a Representative, if value of estate is below R250 000 or appoints an Executor is if the value of the estate exceeds R250 000.
3. The Representative deals with the estate in accordance with the directions of the Master of the High Court.
4. The duties of the Executor, include amongst others, the following:
a) the advertising for creditors to lodge claims,
b) the preparation of a list of the assets in the estate called an inventory,
c) the preparation and advertising of a liquidation and distribution account (L and D account) for the purposes of inviting objections to the L and D account, if any, and finally
d) the distribution of the assets.
e) The distribution of immovable property is done by means of registration in the Deeds Office and the Representative or Executor, as the case may be, instructs a conveyancer to effect transfer in the Deeds Office.