How to write and register a will in Bengaluru

A will (ಉಯಿಲು) is valid in India without registration. Under the Indian Succession Act, 1925, it only has to be in writing, signed by you, and attested by two witnesses who saw you sign. Will registration at a sub-registrar office is optional under Section 18 of the Registration Act, 1908.

Registering is still worth doing in Bengaluru. A registered will is kept in the government’s records, the sub-registrar checks your identity and records your photograph and fingerprints, and it is much harder for anyone to say later that the will was forged or that you did not know what you were signing.

This article covers how to write the will, how to register a will in Bangalore through the Kaveri 2.0 system, and the mistakes that lead to will disputes in court.

Both witnesses should watch you sign, and sign in front of you. Do not use a beneficiary as a witness.

Who can make a will

Anyone who is 18 or older and of sound mind can make a will. You can only leave what is yours to give: your self-acquired property, your share in joint or ancestral property, bank deposits, shares, jewellery, vehicles and so on.

Muslims are governed by Muslim personal law for wills. In general, a Muslim can leave up to one third of the estate by will, and more only if the heirs consent after death. The rest goes by the rules of inheritance. If you are Muslim, get advice on this before drafting.

What to put in the will

Write in plain language, in English or Kannada. A will does not need legal jargon. It needs to be clear.

• your full name, age, father’s or husband’s name, and address, matching your Aadhaar
• a line that you are making the will of your own free will and in sound health, and that it revokes earlier wills
• a list of your properties with enough detail to identify them: survey or site number, khata number, flat number and building name, bank and account numbers
• who gets what. Name each beneficiary with their relationship to you
• what happens to anything you have not listed (the “residue”)
• an executor, the person who will carry out the will. This is optional but helpful
• the date and place, your signature on every page, and the witnesses’ signatures, names and addresses

If you are leaving out a child or giving one child much more, say briefly why. Courts look at whether a will makes sense. An unexplained exclusion is a common ground of challenge.

Witnesses: the part people get wrong

Under Section 63 of the Indian Succession Act, two or more witnesses must attest the will. Each must see you sign, or hear you acknowledge your signature, and each must sign in your presence.

• Use adults who are not beneficiaries and are not married to a beneficiary. A beneficiary who witnesses a will can lose their gift under Section 67.
• Pick people who are likely to be available years later. If the will is challenged, at least one witness may have to give evidence in court.
• If you are elderly or unwell, a doctor’s certificate on the same day that you are of sound mind is useful evidence.

How to register a will in Bangalore, step by step

1. Draft and print the will. There is no stamp duty on a will, so plain paper is fine.
2. Sign and get it attested by two witnesses. You can also sign at the sub-registrar office itself.
3. Go to Kaveri 2.0 (kaveri.karnataka.gov.in), create a login, enter the document details and upload the will. Choose the sub-registrar office. In Bengaluru you can usually register at the office for the area where you live or where the property is, but check the jurisdiction shown on the portal.
4. Pay the registration fee online and book a slot.
5. Attend in person on the slot date with your original ID, the original will and your two witnesses with their ID. The sub-registrar takes your photograph and thumb impression, and those of the witnesses.
6. Collect the registered will. It is scanned and kept in the records, and you get the original back with the registration endorsement.

The registration fee for a will is a fixed, small amount, not a percentage of property value. Confirm the current fee on Kaveri 2.0 when you enter the document, since fees are revised from time to time.

If you cannot go to the office because of illness, the Registration Act allows the sub-registrar to visit you at home or in hospital on request, for an extra fee.

Documents to carry

• original will, signed on every page
• Aadhaar and PAN of the person making the will
• Aadhaar or other photo ID of both witnesses
• passport-size photos if the office asks for them
• the Kaveri application number and payment receipt

You do not have to give title deeds of the property to register a will. It still helps to describe each property accurately, using the title deed and khata.

Depositing a will in a sealed cover

There is another option many people do not know about. Under Sections 42 to 46 of the Registration Act, you can deposit your will in a sealed cover with the District Registrar. Nobody reads it while you are alive. After your death, it is opened on an application and a copy is registered.

This suits people who want privacy. You can take the cover back or replace it with a new one later. Ask the District Registrar’s office about the current procedure and fee before you go.

Changing or cancelling a registered will

You can change your will any number of times. The latest valid will is the one that counts. Make a fresh will that says it revokes all earlier ones, and register it the same way. A small change can be made by a codicil, which needs the same signature and two witnesses. Do not write on or strike out parts of a registered will. Handwritten changes on an old will cause disputes.

After death: does the family need probate?

In Bengaluru, probate is not compulsory, and the rule that once made it compulsory in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata (Section 213 of the Indian Succession Act) was omitted in December 2025. Families often use a registered will directly to change the khata and bank records. Banks and buyers may still ask for probate when amounts are large or an heir objects. Our article on succession certificate, legal heir certificate and probate explains when each is needed, and the legal heir certificate article covers the revenue side.

Questions people ask

Is it compulsory to register a will in Karnataka?

No. Registration of a will is optional under the Registration Act. An unregistered will that is properly signed and attested by two witnesses is valid, but a registered will is harder to challenge.

What is the fee for will registration in Bangalore?

There is no stamp duty on a will. The registration fee is a small fixed amount paid on Kaveri 2.0. Check the current fee on the portal, as it is revised from time to time.

Can I register a will online in Karnataka?

You can start online on Kaveri 2.0: enter details, upload the will, pay the fee and book a slot. You and your two witnesses still have to appear at the sub-registrar office for photographs and fingerprints.

Can a family member be a witness to a will?

Yes, as long as they are not a beneficiary or the spouse of one. A beneficiary who witnesses a will risks losing the gift to them.

Can a registered will be changed later?

Yes. Make a new will that revokes the earlier one and register it. The last valid will you make is the one that applies.

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.