A succession certificate is granted by the District Judge where the deceased lived and lets heirs collect debts and securities such as bank deposits and shares. Heirs in Pakistan can apply through an attorney holder or through us, with an apostilled affidavit and proof of relationship. Payment out of India to a Pakistani citizen is tightly restricted, so we plan in advance where the money will go.
- Document route
- Pakistani notary and apostille, or Indian High Commission attestation where available
- Time difference
- IST is 30 minutes ahead of Pakistan all year
- Law
- Part X, Indian Succession Act 1925
- Court
- District Judge where the deceased lived
Succession Certificate from Pakistan: how it works
We start by collecting the death certificate, details of the accounts or shares, and documents showing the family tree, such as NADRA records and old Indian papers. We then file the petition under Part X of the Indian Succession Act before the District Judge, serve notice on the other heirs and the public, and answer any objection. If a will exists, probate or letters of administration may be needed instead.
Before the certificate is granted, we check with the bank how the money can be released lawfully. Where an heir is a Pakistani citizen, funds may need to stay in India in a permitted account, be released to an Indian co-heir under a family arrangement, or await specific approval for remittance. We explain these options in writing so that the family can decide together.
What clients in Pakistan should know
- The court fee is a percentage of the amount claimed and varies by state.
- Notice is published in a newspaper, which takes time; most uncontested cases still take several months.
- Heirs in India and Pakistan can agree a family settlement that the court can take into account.
Step by step from Pakistan
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Pakistan, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Pakistan
Pakistani notary and apostille, or Indian High Commission attestation where available
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Pakistan where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Pakistan. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Succession Certificate, or see all services for clients in Pakistan and the Inheritance & Documents practice area.
Questions from clients in Pakistan
Can a Pakistani citizen be granted a succession certificate in India?
The court can grant it to a legal heir of any nationality. Releasing and remitting the money is the harder part and needs careful planning.
Do I need to come to India?
Usually not. An apostilled affidavit and a power of attorney are enough for most uncontested cases.
What if the deceased owned land as well?
Land is not covered by a succession certificate. Mutation and transfer of land to a Pakistani citizen needs RBI permission and may raise enemy property issues.