A legal heir certificate is an important legal document that establishes the relationship between a deceased person and their legal heirs. The legal heirs must submit an application for the legal heir certificate to the municipality/corporation for the transfer of ownership of assets of the deceased person. In Kerala, one can obtain a legal heir certificate both online and offline. The document is issued by only the Tahsildar or Revenue Officer of the district. The eDistrict portal by the Government of Kerala provides various services to citizens online.
See also: Legal heir certificate: Format, application, fee and importance
How to apply for legal heir certificate in Kerala online?
- Visit the official eDistrict portal of the Kerala government.
- Click on ‘create your account now’ link to register.
- Provide details such as date of birth, name, address, contact number, Aadhaar card number and create a password.
- Now, login to the portal using your login credentials.
- Click on the Legal Heir Certificate option from the Certificate Services Section
- Users will be directed to a new page where they must choose the E-district number, legal heir certificate type, date of purchase and certificate purpose details.
- Click on ‘Save’
- Upload the requisite documents
- Complete the payment process
Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala: Documents required
- Aadhaar Card
- Affidavit
- Death certificate of the deceased
- Ration card
- Voter ID
- Service certificate issued by the HOD of deceased (if applicable)
- Pension payment slip (if applicable)
Who can apply for a Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala?
The following members of the deceased person’s family can apply for a legal heir certificate:
- Parent
- Siblings
- Child
- Spouse
How to apply for a Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala offline?
- Visit the Tahsildar office in your district along with the required documents.
- Get the application form for a legal heir certificate from the office.
- Provide details in the required columns and affix a stamp of Rs 2.
- Submit the form along with the supporting documents at the office.
- The village administrative office and revenue officer will complete the verification process.
- If there is no problem, the reports will be sent to the Tahsildar.
- The legal heirship certificate in Kerala will be issued or the application may be rejected as per the authority’ decision.
How to apply for a Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala through Akshaya Centers?
- Visit the Akshaya Centre in your area locality or go to the official Akshaya Service Portal to apply online.
- You will be required to fill the application form and submit it along with the relevant documents.
- Complete the payment of the applicable fees.
- The officials will issue a receipt and the verification process will be initiated.
- A message will be sent on the registered mobile number to track your application status.
- Once the request is approved, visit the authorities to collect your legal heir certificate or print it online.
How to track application status of Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala?
- Visit the online E-district portal of Kerala.
- Click on the track application link
- Select the service as certificate services and certificate type as Legal Heir from the dropdown
- Provide the application number
- Click on ‘Submit’ to view the status
How to download a Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala?
- After the approval notification is sent to the applicant, one can download the legal heir certificate in Kerala online.
- Go to the official E-district website and login
- Click on Transaction History
- Select ‘From date’ and ‘To date’ options. Click on ‘Go
- Click on ‘View Status’
- Once the status shows approved, click on ‘Print’ to download the document.
What is the cost to apply for a Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala?
| Online | Offline | Akshaya Centre |
| Rs 2 for stamp and Rs 15, if applicable | Rs 2 for stamp and Rs 20 for stamp paper for affidavit | Rs 18 as a service charge, Rs 7 as a government service charge and Rs 3 for processing (scanning and printing) |
Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala: Significance
All rights and liabilities of a deceased person can be transferred and distributed to the legal heirs if they have a legal heir certificate. A Legal Heir Certificate in Kerala is a crucial document for the surviving members of the family to establish their right over the property of the deceased person. It is required for various purposes:
- Acquire or inherit properties and assets
- Claim government benefits:
- Insurance
- Pension
- Retirement
- Gratuity
- Provident fund
- Transfer
- Telephone connection
- House tax
- Registered bank account
- Electricity connection
FAQs
How to get a legal heir certificate in Kerala?
One can visit the tehsil office or E-district portal of Kerala to apply for legal certificate in Kerala online.
How much time does it take to get a legal heir certificate in Kerala?
It takes around 30 working days to file an objection after the gazette notification. The certificate is issued within 15 working days after the end of the objection filing period, provided there is no objection.
What is the validity of a legal heir certificate in Kerala?
The legal heir certificate in Kerala has lifelong validity.
Is a legal heir certificate necessary?
A legal heir certificate is required to obtain legal rights for property transfer, transfer of benefit such as provident funds, gratuity, etc.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |