This is often a contentious issue and one of the leading causes for inheritance disputes. This is one of the reasons edict meetings are so important and vital in the administration of estates. The edict meeting is convened for all those who have an interest in the estate including family members, relatives, debtors and creditors. At the edict meeting family members can confirm or deny the existence of a customary marriage. Many people are of the mistaken view that simply because a couple lived together for many years and had children it meant the couple was married. This is not true because there are certain recognised and mutually accepted cultural rituals that must be performed before people are regarded as being customarily married. If the family members from both sides are in agreement that the deceased was married the Master accepts they were married and confers the surviving spouse with the surviving spouse status. If not the Master will proceed as if the deceased was not married but will not disregard the children born of the cohabiting union.