Government Services · Karnataka · Revenue and Succession
How to Get a Legal Heir or Succession Certificate in Karnataka
When a family member dies, you often need a document that officially names the heirs. In Karnataka there are two different documents and they are not the same. A legal heir certificate (also issued as a survivorship or family member certificate) comes from the Revenue Department through the Nadakacheri portal and lists the surviving family members, and it is used for service benefits, pension, gratuity and simple transfers. A succession certificate is a court order from the civil court, used to collect the deceased person debts, bank deposits, shares and securities. This page explains the difference, how to apply for the legal heir certificate online on Nadakacheri, the documents you need, when a Tahsildar certificate is not enough and you must go to court, and what to do if the heirs disagree. Last verified October 2026.
- Where: Nadakacheri at nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in (Revenue Department, Karnataka).
- Legal heir certificate: from the Tahsildar, for pension, gratuity, PF and simple transfers.
- Succession certificate: a civil court order, for bank deposits, shares and securities.
- Papers: death certificate, Aadhaar of all heirs, family proof, self declaration.
- If heirs disagree: the civil court decides; Claw can track the case.
01Legal heir vs succession certificate
Getting the right document saves months. The two differ in who issues them and what they do:
- Legal heir / survivorship certificate. Issued by the Tahsildar through Nadakacheri. It names the surviving heirs and is accepted for a government job family benefit, pension, gratuity, provident fund and many simple property and utility transfers.
- Succession certificate. A court order from the civil court under the Indian Succession Act 1925. It is needed to collect the deceased person debts, bank balances, fixed deposits, shares and other securities when there is no nomination or will.
For immovable property left without a will, heirs usually get mutation done in the revenue record using the legal heir certificate and the death certificate; a serious title fight still goes to the civil court.
02Documents you need
Keep clear scans ready before you start. For the Nadakacheri legal heir certificate the usual set is:
| Document | Why it is asked |
|---|---|
| Death certificate of the deceased | Proof of death and the trigger for the certificate |
| Aadhaar of the applicant and each heir | Identity of the family members |
| Ration card or family proof | To show the family relationship |
| Address proof | Jurisdiction of the Tahsil |
| Pension or service document, if the purpose is a service benefit | Supports the stated purpose |
| Self declaration or affidavit of heirs | Statement of the surviving family members |
Spell every name exactly as it appears on Aadhaar and the ration card, because a mismatch is the most common cause of a held or rejected application.
03Apply on Nadakacheri (step by step)
The legal heir / survivorship certificate is issued through the Nadakacheri (Atalji Janasnehi Kendra) portal of the Revenue Department. Broad steps:
- 1. Open Nadakacheri. Go to nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in and log in, or apply at a Nadakacheri / Atalji Janasnehi Kendra centre. Some services are also reached through Seva Sindhu.
- 2. Choose the certificate. Select the Survivorship / Legal heir or Family member certificate service.
- 3. Fill the details. Enter the deceased person details and each surviving heir, with the relationship.
- 4. Upload documents. Attach the death certificate, Aadhaar, family proof and the self declaration.
- 5. Pay and submit. Pay the small fee and submit; note the acknowledgement number.
The Revenue Inspector and village officer verify the heirs in the field before the Tahsildar signs the certificate.
04When you must go to the civil court
A Tahsildar certificate is enough for most service and pension benefits, but banks and companies often insist on a court document for money and securities. Go to the civil court when:
- You need to collect bank deposits, shares or debts with no nomination, which needs a succession certificate.
- There is a will that needs probate or letters of administration.
- The heirs disagree, or someone disputes who the heirs are.
For the court route, read how to get a succession certificate and what a succession certificate covers. Who inherits without a will is set by personal law, explained in intestate succession for Hindus.
05Track, download and common problems
Log back in to Nadakacheri and check the status with your acknowledgement number. When it is issued, download the digitally signed certificate. Common problems:
- Name or relationship does not match Aadhaar or the ration card.
- An heir is left out, which can invalidate the certificate for a benefit claim.
- Field verification pending; visit the Nadakacheri centre with the acknowledgement number.
- The receiving bank or office insists on a succession certificate rather than the Tahsildar certificate.
06If the heirs disagree
A legal heir certificate is an administrative statement of who the heirs are. It does not decide a fight over shares, a disputed will, or whether a person is an heir at all. When heirs disagree, the matter moves to the civil court, as a succession certificate petition, a probate or letters of administration case, or a partition suit, and the court decides who inherits and in what share.
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
If your succession turns into a court matter, you can create a FREE Claw account and track that matter across the forum that hears it. Claw covers 9,102 courts, benches and forums in India, so whether your case sits before a district civil court or the High Court, there is a real tracking home for the orders and next dates. Judgment search spans 30 crore+ judgments, with Supreme Court decisions from 1950 and High Court decisions from 1990, and results return in under 5 seconds, which helps if you or your lawyer want to see how similar succession disputes were decided. Claw does not train its AI models on your documents. This is general information and not legal advice, and a contested succession needs a lawyer.
To see what is already filed, run a case search across Indian courts by party name.
07Sources and further reading
- Nadakacheri (Atalji Janasnehi Kendra, Karnataka): nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in
- Seva Sindhu: sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in
- eCourts (case status): ecourts.gov.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This page is general information for readers in India, not legal advice. Portal links and fees change, so confirm on the official Nadakacheri site before you apply.
08Frequently asked questions
Where do I get a legal heir certificate in Karnataka?
Through the Nadakacheri (Atalji Janasnehi Kendra) portal at nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in, where the Tahsildar issues a survivorship or legal heir certificate after field verification. Some services are also reached through Seva Sindhu.
What is the difference from a succession certificate?
A legal heir certificate from the Tahsildar names the surviving family and is used for pension, gratuity, provident fund and simple transfers. A succession certificate is a civil court order needed to collect the deceased person debts, bank deposits, shares and securities.
Which one does my bank need to release a fixed deposit?
Banks usually insist on a succession certificate from the civil court (or probate if there is a will) to release deposits and securities with no nomination. The Tahsildar legal heir certificate is often not enough for money and securities.
What documents do I need on Nadakacheri?
The death certificate, Aadhaar of the applicant and each heir, ration card or family proof, address proof and a self declaration of the surviving family members, with the purpose document if it is a service benefit.
What if the heirs disagree about shares?
A legal heir certificate does not decide a dispute. When heirs disagree the matter goes to the civil court as a succession, probate or partition case, and you can track that matter across the forum that hears it and look up how similar disputes were decided.