When someone in the family dies, the bank, the pension office, BESCOM or the property tax office will usually ask for a legal heir certificate. In Bengaluru, this is a revenue department certificate. It is issued by the tahsildar of your taluk through the Nadakacheri (Atalji Janasnehi Kendra) system, after the village accountant and revenue inspector check the family details.
In Karnataka you will hear three names for closely related papers: the legal heir certificate, the surviving family members certificate, and the family tree certificate (ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ). They all list who the deceased person left behind. Which one an office wants depends on that office, so ask them for the exact name before you apply.
A legal heir certificate is not a court order. It identifies the family members. It does not decide who owns what. For larger bank deposits, shares or disputed property, you may also need a succession certificate or probate from a court.
Which certificate do you actually need?
Before you start, find out what the office asking for it will accept.
- Family tree certificate (ವಂಶವೃಕ್ಷ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಪತ್ರ): shows how family members are related, including those who have died. Often asked for in land and RTC (pahani) mutation, and for some government schemes.
- Surviving family members certificate: lists the people alive after a death. Banks, employers and pension offices often accept this.
- Legal heir certificate: the common name people use for either of the above. Some offices use it to mean the certificate for the family of a deceased government employee.
If the office only says “legal heir certificate”, ask them to write down the certificate name or show you a sample. It saves a second trip to the Nadakacheri.
Who issues it in Bengaluru
The certificate is issued by the tahsildar of the taluk where the deceased person lived. Bengaluru Urban district is split into several taluks, and each has its own tahsildar office and Nadakacheri counters.
You can apply:
- online on the Nadakacheri portal (nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in), using the “Apply Online” link
- at a Nadakacheri counter in your taluk
- through a Bangalore One, Karnataka One or Grama One service centre, which can upload the application for you
After you apply, you get an application reference number. You can track the status on the Nadakacheri status page.
Documents you will need
Keep these ready, as scans and as photocopies:
- death certificate of the person who died, from the registrar of births and deaths (in Karnataka, many are now on the e-Janma system)
- Aadhaar of the applicant. The revenue department now uses Aadhaar e-KYC to confirm who is applying
- ID proof of every living family member: Aadhaar, voter ID, ration card, PAN or passport
- proof of relationship: ration card, school records, birth certificates, marriage certificate
- address proof of the deceased
- an affidavit listing the family members, signed before a notary
For family tree certificates, a Revenue Department circular of July 2026 asks the applicant to give the family tree as a sworn affidavit on Rs 100 stamp paper, and to upload it with Aadhaar or other ID of the living family members. If a death certificate is not available for someone in the tree who died long ago, the circular lets you give other proof instead. Check the latest format at the counter, because the circulars change.
Step by step
- Get the death certificate and make several copies.
- Write out the family tree: the deceased person, spouse, children, and parents if alive. Include anyone who died before the deceased, with their date of death.
- Prepare the affidavit on stamp paper and have it notarised. You can buy stamp paper online as a digital e-stamp on the Kaveri portal. Our note on affidavits and notaries explains the difference.
- Apply online or at the Nadakacheri, pay the service charge, and keep the reference number.
- The village accountant (Grama Adalitha Adhikari) and revenue inspector verify the details. They may visit the house or ask neighbours.
- The tahsildar approves and the certificate is issued. You can download it or collect it.
How long it takes and what it costs
The Nadakacheri service charge is small. The current amount for each certificate is shown on the portal’s “List of Online Services With Charges” page. Stamp paper and notary charges are extra.
Time depends on how quickly the field verification happens. If the papers are clean and the family agrees, it often takes a few weeks. It takes longer if a family member lives abroad, if names are spelt differently across documents, or if someone objects. Many Nadakacheri services come under Sakala, the state’s scheme that fixes a time limit for each service. If your application sits past the Sakala period, ask the tahsildar’s office for the reason in writing.
Why applications get rejected
The common reasons we see in Bengaluru files:
- name mismatch: the father is “Ramaiah” in the ration card and “Ramaiah K.” in the death certificate
- a family member left out, often a married daughter. Under the Hindu Succession Act, daughters are legal heirs in the same way as sons. Leaving one out can make the certificate wrong and lead to disputes later
- no proof of relationship for one member
- an objection from a relative during verification
If the tahsildar rejects the application, read the endorsement carefully. It says why. Often you can fix the papers and apply again. If you think the rejection is wrong, speak to a lawyer about the right appeal or remedy before you reapply. Where there is a real dispute about who the heirs are, the revenue office will usually not decide it. That goes to a civil court.
When the legal heir certificate is not enough
A legal heir certificate tells the bank who the family is. It does not protect the bank if it pays the wrong person. That is why banks, companies and mutual funds often ask for a succession certificate from the court for larger amounts, or probate if there is a will.
For land and houses, the heirs usually also need to change the khata and RTC. Our article on khata transfer in Bengaluru covers that step. If there is a will, see how to write and register a will.
Questions people ask
Who issues a legal heir certificate in Bangalore?
The tahsildar of the taluk where the deceased person lived. You apply through the Nadakacheri portal, a Nadakacheri counter, or a Bangalore One or Karnataka One centre.
Can I apply for a legal heir certificate online in Karnataka?
Yes. Apply on nadakacheri.karnataka.gov.in with Aadhaar e-KYC and scanned documents. A field verification still happens before the certificate is issued.
Is a family tree certificate the same as a legal heir certificate?
They are close but not identical. A family tree certificate shows how all members are related, including those who have died. A surviving family members certificate lists only the living heirs. Ask the office that needs it which one they want.
Can a married daughter be named in a legal heir certificate?
Yes. A married daughter is a legal heir of her parents under the Hindu Succession Act. She should be listed, and leaving her out can make the certificate open to challenge.
Is a legal heir certificate enough to sell inherited property?
Usually not on its own. A buyer and their bank will want the khata and RTC in the heirs’ names, a clean title chain, and often a release or partition deed among the heirs.
Talk to us about your matter
Call or WhatsApp to fix a time. Bring your papers to the office in Rajarajeshwari Nagar.
This article is general information about the law as it stood when it was written. Your facts change the answer. Speak to an advocate before you act on it.