The documents and steps, in order, to transfer a family member's money and property in India.
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Use this checklist in the weeks and months after a family member dies, to make sure nothing is missed and the paperwork happens in the right order.
How to use it. Tick each item as you finish it. The groups follow the usual order: first collect the death certificate and find out what the person owned and owed; then claim what was nominated; then prove heirship for everything else; then transfer each asset and deal with tax. Some steps run in parallel, and you may not need every heirship document. A bank deposit with a nominee needs none, while a disputed estate may need a court order.
Illustrative example. A mother leaves a savings account with a nominee, an unnominated FD of ₹8 lakh, a flat and a demat account. The nominee claims the savings account with three documents. The FD is below RBI's ₹15 lakh threshold, so the heirs use the bank's simplified procedure with a legal heir certificate or declaration. The flat needs mutation with the heirs' documents, and the shares need transmission through the depository participant.
Limits. Requirements differ by state, bank, registrar and housing society. This list is general guidance, not legal advice. See the inheritance law overview and the certificates comparison.
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