Succession Certificate & Legal Heir Helper
Someone has died. Which paper do you need — a succession certificate, a legal-heir certificate, probate, or a family settlement — and how do you get it? Answer a few questions, draft the petition, and check the court fee for your state. Every fee and rule is verified against at least two published sources, with the source shown on every row.
Which certificate do you need?
No will + bank deposits, shares, PF or insurance? Usually a succession certificate from the District Court (Section 372, Indian Succession Act, 1925). Will left behind? Then it is probate (or letters of administration) — a succession certificate cannot be granted. Government pension, gratuity or dues? Usually a legal-heir certificate from the Tahsildar — in the states that issue one. Immovable property? A succession certificate does not transfer title; you need mutation (and probate, if there is a will).
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What this tool covers
- 3 state court fees verified against 2+ published sources
- 5 state court fees shown with a “single source — verify” badge
- 5 state court fees left out because they could not be verified — listed openly on the Sources page
- 6 states with a verified legal-heir certificate route (portal, documents, timeline)
- 1 state where no legal-heir certificate is issued — what to do instead
- 5 asset guides — bank FD, shares/Demat, PF, insurance, property
- 7 state guides — legal-heir certificate by state
About 89 lakh deaths were registered in India in 2024 (Civil Registration System, 2024 report) — roughly 89 lakh families a year enter this process. An uncontested succession certificate commonly takes 3–7 months after filing, including a public-notice period of about 45 days (guides differ: some say 3–6 months, some 4–7, some 5–7, some up to 12 months — we publish the range, not a single figure). There is no dedicated interactive petition generator anywhere else we could find — only lawyers and static templates.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a succession certificate?
- A court order under Sections 370–390 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, that authorises the legal heirs to collect the deceased person's debts and securities — bank deposits, shares, PF, insurance. It is granted by the District Court where the deceased ordinarily resided. It does not by itself transfer title to immovable property.
- Succession certificate vs legal-heir certificate — what is the difference?
- A succession certificate is a court order for debts and securities. A legal-heir certificate is issued by the Tahsildar / Revenue Department and identifies who the legal heirs are — used for government pension, gratuity and dues. Not every state issues a legal-heir certificate.
- Is there a will? Then what?
- If the deceased left a valid will, a succession certificate cannot be granted (Section 370). The route is probate of the will (or letters of administration with the will annexed, if no executor was named).
- How long does a succession certificate take?
- Guides say 3–6 months for an uncontested case, some say 5–7 months, including a public-notice period of about 45 days for objections. If anyone objects, it becomes a contested case and takes longer.
- How much is the court fee?
- It varies by state — ad valorem (a percentage of the value) in some states, fixed in others. Use the court-fee estimator; every figure is labelled with its verification status, and the District Court's own figure is final.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. This is a free reference tool. Court formats vary by district — have a lawyer review any petition before filing.