Law4u - Made in India

Is a succession certificate needed if a will is present?

Answer By law4u team

In India, a succession certificate is generally not needed if there is a valid will. Instead, a probate of the will is required. Here's the distinction: - Succession Certificate: This is primarily used when a person dies intestate (without a will). It is obtained from a court to give the legal heir the authority to inherit and manage the deceased's movable property like bank accounts, bonds, or shares. - Probate of Will: If there is a will, the legal heirs need to get a probate of the will from a court, particularly under the Indian Succession Act, 1925. This certifies the validity of the will and grants the executor the authority to administer the estate as per the will's instructions. So, if you have a will and you want to claim the property or assets as per the will, you would typically need a probate rather than a succession certificate. However, the need for probate may depend on the type of property and the jurisdiction.

Answer By Ayantika Mondal

Dear Client, If someone leaves a valid will in India, obtaining a succession certificate is not necessary. Consequently, a probate of the will is needed which is a court-approved confirmation that the will is valid and represents the authority of the executor. When Probate is needed? The will is to be executed in the cities of Mumbai, Chennai, or Kolkata, where probate is mandatory for wills concerning immovable property. Problems have been raised by heirs or the executor thinks the will isn’t valid. If an asset is in a country that needs probate to be recognized, it belongs to the will. After the court gives probate, the validity of the will and the executor’s rights are proven, so a succession certificate is not required. Conclusion Usually, a valid will replaces the need for a succession certificate, but there are situations, mainly handling moveable assets or for institutions, where one is required. To learn what processes are required to transfer your assets, you should consult with a legal professional. I hope this answer helps. In case of future queries please feel free to contact us. Thank you.

Answer By Anik

Dear Client, If someone leaves a valid will in India, obtaining a succession certificate is not necessary. Consequently, a probate of the will is needed which is a court-approved confirmation that the will is valid and represents the authority of the executor. When Probate is needed? The will is to be executed in the cities of Mumbai, Chennai, or Kolkata, where probate is mandatory for wills concerning immovable property. Problems have been raised by heirs or the executor thinks the will isn’t valid. If an asset is in a country that needs probate to be recognized, it belongs to the will. After the court gives probate, the validity of the will and the executor’s rights are proven, so a succession certificate is not required. Conclusion Usually, a valid will replaces the need for a succession certificate, but there are situations, mainly handling moveable assets or for institutions, where one is required. To learn what processes are required to transfer your assets, you should consult with a legal professional. I hope this answer helps. In case of future queries please feel free to contact us. Thank you.

Succession Certificate Verified Advocates

Get expert legal advice instantly.

Advocate Madhur Maheshwari

Advocate Madhur Maheshwari

Anticipatory Bail, Civil, Court Marriage, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Supreme Court, Armed Forces Tribunal, Banking & Finance, Child Custody, Consumer Court, R.T.I, Recovery, Muslim Law, Breach of Contract, Immigration, Insurance, International Law, Landlord & Tenant, Revenue, Wills Trusts, Motor Accident, Labour & Service, Arbitration, RERA, Succession Certificate

Get Advice
Advocate Daljeet Singh Thakur

Advocate Daljeet Singh Thakur

Anticipatory Bail, Cheque Bounce, Civil, Customs & Central Excise, Criminal, Divorce, Child Custody, Consumer Court, Domestic Violence, Family, Landlord & Tenant, Motor Accident, Succession Certificate

Get Advice
Advocate Haribob Yamalapalli

Advocate Haribob Yamalapalli

Anticipatory Bail,Bankruptcy & Insolvency,Banking & Finance,Breach of Contract,Cheque Bounce,Civil,Consumer Court,Corporate,Court Marriage,Criminal,Cyber Crime,Divorce,Documentation,Domestic Violence,Family,High Court,Insurance,Landlord & Tenant,Medical Negligence,Motor Accident,Muslim Law,Property,Recovery,Succession Certificate,Wills Trusts,

Get Advice
Advocate A G Deshpande

Advocate A G Deshpande

Divorce, Family, Domestic Violence, Insurance, Motor Accident, Property, Succession Certificate, Revenue, Cheque Bounce, Breach of Contract, Child Custody, Civil

Get Advice
Advocate Yojanya Murthy

Advocate Yojanya Murthy

Anticipatory Bail, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Criminal, Cyber Crime, Divorce, Documentation, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Landlord & Tenant, Media and Entertainment, Medical Negligence, Motor Accident, Property, R.T.I, Succession Certificate, Wills Trusts, Revenue, Muslim Law, Court Marriage, Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy & Insolvency

Get Advice
Advocate Rajeev Kumar Jha

Advocate Rajeev Kumar Jha

Anticipatory Bail,Civil,Consumer Court,Documentation,High Court,Insurance,Landlord & Tenant,Property,R.T.I,RERA,Startup,Succession Certificate,Wills Trusts,

Get Advice
Advocate Nilesh Kailas Vadje

Advocate Nilesh Kailas Vadje

Family, Civil, Breach of Contract, Divorce, Succession Certificate, Revenue, Banking & Finance, Cheque Bounce, Court Marriage, Consumer Court, Criminal, Landlord & Tenant, Motor Accident, Domestic Violence, Documentation

Get Advice
Advocate Macharla Vijay Samrat

Advocate Macharla Vijay Samrat

Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Criminal, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Family, Insurance, Property, R.T.I, Recovery, Succession Certificate

Get Advice
Advocate Chhavi Navik

Advocate Chhavi Navik

Criminal, Divorce, Family, Tax, Cheque Bounce, Motor Accident, Recovery, Succession Certificate, Consumer Court, GST

Get Advice
Advocate S Srishailam

Advocate S Srishailam

Anticipatory Bail, Arbitration, Breach of Contract, Cheque Bounce, Child Custody, Civil, Consumer Court, Court Marriage, Criminal, Divorce, Documentation, Domestic Violence, Family, High Court, Labour & Service, Landlord & Tenant, Motor Accident, Muslim Law, Succession Certificate, Revenue

Get Advice

Succession Certificate Related Questions

Discover clear and detailed answers to common questions about Breach of Contract. Learn about procedures and more in straightforward language.