How long does a succession certificate take?

Guides say 3–6 months for an uncontested case, some say 4–7 or 5–7 months, and some say up to 12 months — including a public-notice period of about 45 days. We publish the range (commonly 3–7 months) because the sources disagree.

An heir who does not consent, missing or mismatched names across the death certificate and bank records, an incomplete asset list, or a will surfacing after filing.

What happens if someone objects?

The petition becomes a contested case: the court holds a formal inquiry or trial with evidence and witnesses. Guides put contested cases at 1–3 years.

Timeline checklist — getting a succession certificate

The process, in order, with the time each step usually takes. Times are from published guides and vary by court and district — treat them as planning figures, not promises.

Obtain the death certificate — The first document — every later step needs it: the petition, the bank, the EPF claim, the insurance claim and the legal-heir application.
Sources: RegisterKaro — Succession certificate, InvestorHelpdesk — Legal heir certificate guide
Identify the assets and all the heirs — List every debt and security (for a succession certificate) and every legal heir — leaving one out can cause rejection. Check which assets have a nominee, because a nominee changes the route.
Sources: WillJini — Succession certificate for an NRI, eGovtSchemes — Varisu certificate (REV-114), Tamil Nadu
Decide which certificate you need — No will + need to collect debts/securities → succession certificate (court). Only need to prove who the heirs are (pension, mutation, small claims) → legal-heir certificate (revenue). Will exists → probate / letters of administration (voluntary since Dec 2025). All heirs agree on the division → a family settlement deed may avoid court.
Sources: Assetly — How to get a succession certificate in India, LegalServiceIndia — Legal heir certificate: law, procedure, documents, Finnovate — Probate in India explained (after Dec 2025)
File the petition and pay the court fee — Petition under Section 372 before the District Judge where the deceased ordinarily resided (or where assets are). Pay the court fee on the schedule of debts/securities, via judicial stamp paper / deposit under Section 379.
Sources: SooperKanoon — Indian Succession Act, 1925 Part X (bare text), RegisterKaro — Succession certificate
Court notice and newspaper publication — The court issues notice to the heirs and publishes it in a newspaper (and in most states the official gazette) inviting objections. (Usually weeks 2–4 after filing)
Sources: Assetly — How to get a succession certificate in India, GC Chambers — Succession certificate India
Objections window — Any person may file objections to the grant of the certificate. (About 45 days (some guides say 30–45 days))
Sources: Assetly — How to get a succession certificate in India, GetYellow — How long does it take to get a succession certificate
Hearing — Uncontested: a summary hearing on affidavit evidence, then the grant. Contested: a formal inquiry/trial with evidence and witnesses. (Grant often in months 2–4 if uncontested)
Sources: GC Chambers — Succession certificate India, LegalSeva — Succession certificate and how to get it
Certificate issued — The court passes an order and issues the succession certificate. (Commonly 3–7 months uncontested (guides differ: 3–6, 4–7, 5–7, up to 12 months); contested cases take 1–3 years)
Sources: Sudhir Rao — Fast-tracking your succession certificate application, Assetly — How to get a succession certificate in India, EzyLegal — How NRIs can obtain a succession certificate in India, GC Chambers — Succession certificate India

Documents to keep ready

Death certificate of the deceased
Identity proof of the applicant and all other heirs (Aadhaar / PAN)
Address proof of the applicant and all other heirs
Schedule of the debts and securities claimed, with values — the court fee is charged on this schedule, not on the whole estate
No-objection (NOC) statements / affidavits from the other legal heirs
Proof of relationship to the deceased

Sources: RegisterKaro — Succession certificate, InvestorHelpdesk — Succession certificate for shares, BankBazaar — Succession Certificate in India, WillJini — Succession certificate for an NRI, Assetly — How to get a succession certificate in India, Sudhir Rao — Fast-tracking your succession certificate application

Common delays

An heir who does not consent — the petition becomes contested and takes much longer.
Missing or mismatched names across the death certificate, bank records and IDs — fix name/DOB mismatches first.
An incomplete asset list — the certificate covers only the debts and securities listed in the petition.
A will surfacing after filing — a succession certificate cannot be granted where a valid will exists (Section 370).

Draft the petition → Estimate the court fee →