Family Tree Certificate for Inheritance

Overview

A family tree certificate sets out the members of a family and how they are related, usually as part of dealing with a deceased person's property. Banks, registrars, utility companies and housing societies often ask for one, along with a death certificate, when the property has to be transferred to the surviving family. It helps them see who the legal heirs are without going through a court.

The document is prepared on the basis of declarations from family members and then verified or issued by the competent authority, which in several states, Karnataka among them, is the Tahsildar or another revenue officer. It lists the deceased person, their spouse, children, parents and others who could be legal heirs under the succession law that applies to them. Leaving out an heir is a mistake that comes back later, so the details are checked family member by family member.

It is worth knowing what this certificate does and does not do. It identifies family members but does not decide who inherits what. A will, if one exists, or the succession law applicable to the family decides that. For movable assets such as bank deposits, a court-issued succession certificate may be needed, and for other purposes a legal heirship certificate. We prepare the family tree, help with the supporting documents and tell you which follow-up documents you will need. Because the requirements and even the name of the document vary by state, we confirm local practice before we start.