When a loved one passes away, their bank accounts, property, and other assets cannot be legally transferred to their heirs without a Succession Certificate. In Pakistan, this process was very slow in the past, but now with NADRA’s Succession Facilitation Unit, it has become much easier.
What is a Succession Certificate? It is a legal document issued by NADRA or the court which proves who are the legal heirs of a deceased person. It is required to transfer money from bank accounts, sell property, transfer vehicles, or claim shares.
Who Can Apply? Any legal heir of the deceased can apply. Legal heirs include husband, wife, sons, daughters, father, and mother. If there is a dispute among heirs, you will have to go to court instead of NADRA.
Documents Required: You will need Death Certificate of the deceased issued by NADRA, CNIC copies of the deceased and all legal heirs, Family Registration Certificate (FRC) from NADRA, details of the property, bank accounts, or assets, and an affidavit on stamp paper.
First, visit your nearest NADRA Succession Center with all legal heirs for biometric verification. If an heir is abroad, they can verify through the Pakistani embassy. Then NADRA will publish a notice for 14 days to invite any objections and verify your documents. If there is no objection, NADRA will issue the Succession Certificate within 3 to 4 weeks. The fee is around Rs. 20,000 to 25,000.
You must go to the civil court only if there is a dispute between the heirs or someone has raised an objection.
In conclusion, getting a Succession Certificate is now faster than ever and helps families legally secure their rights without long court battles.
