Property · Conveyancing · Notarial Practice
Property & Notarial Practice
Conveyancing, notarial leases and bonds — handled by an attorney who is also a registered Conveyancer and Notary Public.
What we handle
Four areas of property & notarial work
Each links to a full guide grounded in the Deeds Registries Act, the relevant statutes, and the leading cases.
Property Transfers
Conveyancing through the Deeds Office — the transfer process step by step, what a conveyancer does, costs and transfer duty, timelines, bonds, and the seller and buyer journeys.
Explore the guideNotarial Long-Term Leases
Leases of land for ten years or more — notarial execution, registration against the title deed, huur gaat voor koop, agricultural-land consent, and the rules that make a long lease bind the world.
Explore the guidePrivate Bonds
Private mortgage bonds and the kustingsbrief — registration, costs, ranking, second bonds, the National Credit Act, and how a private bond differs from a bank bond.
Explore the guideNotarial Bonds
General and special notarial bonds over movable assets — what they cover, the registration process, enforcement, and how they rank in insolvency and liquidation.
Explore the guideFrequently Asked Questions
Property & notarial questions
- What is the difference between a conveyancer and a notary public?
- A conveyancer is an attorney specially admitted to attend to the transfer of immovable property and the registration of mortgage bonds in the Deeds Registry. A notary public is an attorney specially admitted to attest and authenticate certain deeds — including notarial long-term leases, notarial bonds, and antenuptial contracts — that the law requires to be executed before a notary. Martin Kotze holds both admissions.
- When does a lease have to be notarised and registered?
- A lease of land for ten years or more (or for a natural life, or renewable at the lessee’s will to that threshold) is a “long lease.” To bind the lessor’s successors and creditors for its full term it must be notarially executed and registered against the title deed. See the notarial long-term leases guide.
- What is the difference between a mortgage bond and a notarial bond?
- A mortgage bond is registered over immovable property (land) as security for a debt — see private bonds. A notarial bond is executed before a notary and registered over movable property; it can be a general notarial bond (over all movables) or a special notarial bond (over specified movables) — see notarial bonds.
- How long does a property transfer take in South Africa?
- A standard transfer through the Deeds Office typically takes 8 to 12 weeks, depending on bond approval, rates and levy clearance, and Deeds Office turnaround. The full timeline is set out in the property transfers guide.
Why you can trust this: Martin Kotze has been an admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, registered Conveyancer and Notary Public since 2014, practising from Pretoria. The firm is regulated by the Legal Practice Council under firm registration 17444.
This page is general information, not legal advice for your specific matter.
Next step
A transfer, lease or bond to register?
Speak to an attorney who is also a conveyancer and notary public — the deeds-registry work is handled personally, end to end.
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