Heirs in the UK can apply for a succession certificate under the Indian Succession Act without travelling. The petition is filed in the district court where the deceased lived, listing the debts and securities to be collected. Consents and powers of attorney are signed before a UK notary and apostilled by the FCDO. After notice and any objections, the court grants the certificate, which banks and companies accept to release the funds.
- Document route
- UK notary public, then FCDO apostille
- Time difference
- IST is 4h30 (BST) to 5h30 (GMT) ahead
- Law
- Part X, Indian Succession Act 1925
- Court
- District Judge where the deceased lived
Succession Certificate from the UK: how it works
We prepare the asset list with the bank and company details you can find, and fill gaps through requests to the institutions. Each heir in the UK signs a consent and an affidavit of relationship before a notary public, with an FCDO apostille, and appoints an attorney holder in India. If the death happened in the UK, the UK death certificate is also apostilled. All originals are sent to India together to avoid several courier rounds.
The court issues notice and publishes it in a newspaper. If no one objects, a certificate follows, typically within several months. Court fee depends on the state and the value of assets. Where there is a will, banks may instead want probate or letters of administration, so we check which route the particular institution will accept before filing. Money released can go to the heirs' NRO accounts and then to the UK within the annual repatriation limit.
What clients in the UK should know
- UK heirs who are British citizens receive Indian money as foreign nationals and need NRO accounts and Forms 15CA and 15CB to repatriate it.
- The UK probate of a parent who died in Britain does not by itself release Indian bank deposits; an Indian grant or certificate is still usually required.
- Interest on inherited Indian deposits may need to be reported on your UK Self Assessment return.
Step by step from the UK
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits the UK, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in the UK
UK notary public, then FCDO apostille
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 the UK where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in the UK. 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 the UK and the Inheritance & Documents practice area.
Questions from clients in the UK
Does every heir need to sign?
All legal heirs are named. Those who agree sign apostilled consents; others receive notice and can object.
Can the certificate cover shares in Indian companies?
Yes. Shares, debentures and other securities are listed in the petition and included in the certificate.
How much does it cost?
Court fee is a percentage of the asset value under state law, plus professional fees. We give an estimate once we know the assets.