A succession certificate is a document obtained in India for a deceased person who did not have a will. The Indian Succession Act of 1925 governs the definition of a will and all succession laws for those deceased without a will. A will is a legal document stating a person's wishes for the division of property and possessions owned. A will appoints an executor, which is the person who ensures the provisions of the will are carried out. It is preferred that all people of an appropriate age and of sound mind obtain a will prior to death.
Purpose:
A succession certificate is used as a legal document stating the deceased person's debts and securities. These certificates are used to transfer properties and possessions of the deceased person to rightful heirs. Because a will stipulates how assets are distributed, a succession certificate gives authority to a qualified friend or family member to distribute the deceased's goods. The way the possessions are distributed are based on succession laws and rely heavily on the religion of the deceased person.
Process:
If the person who died did not have a will, an application for a succession certificate is filled out and given to the court where the deceased person resided. After approval, the court issues this certificate in the name of the person who filed for it. It takes around three of four months to receive the certificate.
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