Whether you need a legal heir certificate, a succession certificate from District Court, probate of a will, or help resolving a disputed inheritance — I handle succession matters across Kerala's courts and revenue offices, including NRI estates with heirs abroad.
Obtaining legal heir certificates through the Tahsildar or Village Officer (free, 15–30 days) via e-District portal or physical office. Required for pension transfer, small bank balances, insurance claims, and government scheme benefits.
Filing succession certificate applications under Sections 370–390 of the Indian Succession Act. Court fee is 3% of the estate value. Required for large bank balances, mutual funds, shares, bonds, and PF/gratuity claims. Timeline: 3–6 months uncontested, 1–2 years if disputed.
Probate applications for wills (mandatory for Christian succession, increasingly required for Hindu wills). Letters of Administration when there is no executor. Defence and dispute resolution when heirs disagree on shares, validity, or the existence of a will.
When heirs are in different countries, property is in Kerala, and the legal heir certificate, succession certificate, mutation, and property transfer need to be coordinated remotely through Power of Attorney.
A Kerala succession matter usually moves through identifying the heirs, obtaining the right certificate, completing mutation, and transferring or selling. Here is who this page is for, how the work is structured, and the documents to gather first.
Whether you need a legal heir certificate, a succession certificate, or a court process depends on the asset and whether there is a will or a dispute. A consultation tells you which one applies.
Most of the process — certificates, mutation, and transfer — can be handled through a properly executed Power of Attorney while you remain abroad.
Where co-heirs cannot agree, a partition may be needed before any share can be dealt with. Sorting the heirship and documentation early prevents a sale from collapsing later.
You need to know which certificate or process applies and what the realistic sequence and timeline are before committing.
You need a legal heir or succession certificate obtained and the records prepared for transfer.
There is a partition dispute, a contested will, or a blocked sale that needs court representation.
Identify the heirs under the applicable succession law and apply for the legal heir certificate; a succession certificate or court step may be needed for some assets.
Update the revenue records into the heirs’ names. Skipping this is a classic mistake that stalls a later sale.
With heirship and records settled, the property can be partitioned among heirs or sold with a clean title (all heirs consenting or via PoA).
Answer a few questions to find out whether you need a legal heir certificate, succession certificate, or probate for your situation.
Find the right certificate →Estimate inheritance shares under Hindu Succession Act based on your family structure — before consulting a lawyer.
Calculate shares →Detailed comparison of both routes — when to use each, costs, timelines, and which institutions accept which certificate.
Read the guide →A parent passed away with property in Kerala? Claim and transfer it from abroad — heir and succession certificates, mutation, and co-heir issues handled remotely.
See inherited-property handling →Book a structured online consultation for Kerala legal matters from India or abroad.
Book an online consultation →A legal heir certificate is issued by the Tahsildar or Village Officer — it is free, takes 15–30 days, and works for pension transfers, small bank balances, and government scheme benefits. A succession certificate is issued by the District Court under the Indian Succession Act (Sections 370–390) — it costs 3% of the estate value in court fees, takes 3–6 months, and is needed for large bank balances, mutual funds, shares, bonds, and insurance proceeds.
Through a combination of online consultation, document coordination, and Power of Attorney execution at the Indian Embassy. The legal heir certificate can often be obtained through the e-District portal. Succession certificates require a District Court application, which can be filed through your advocate.
Probate is mandatory for Christian wills under the Indian Succession Act. For Hindu wills, it is technically optional but increasingly required in practice — banks, registrars, and mutual fund houses often refuse to act on a will without probate or a succession certificate. Probate typically takes 3–12 months.
Under the Hindu Succession Act 1956, Class I heirs (spouse, children, mother, and children of a deceased child) inherit equally. The surviving spouse gets an equal share alongside each child. Use the Inheritance Share Calculator tool on this site to estimate shares based on your family structure.
Book a consultation to get the right certificate route, understand your share, or plan a contested estate strategy. If heirs are abroad, I coordinate through PoA so you do not need to keep travelling.