Official genealogical diagram and certificate certified by the Tehsildar or Village Administrative Officer (VAO) establishing the complete direct line of descendants for agricultural land inheritance, partition deeds, and court matters
Sub-Registrars and Tehsildars will not execute a Batwara (Partition Deed) or enter names in the Record of Rights (Pahani/RTC) without an official Family Tree Certificate proving all surviving legal heirs are accounted for.
đĄ A Family Tree Certificate (known as Vamshavruksha in South India, Kursinama or Shajra Nasab in North India, and Pedigree Tree) is an official certified chart prepared and attested by the Revenue Department. It traces the lineage of a family from a common ancestor (such as the great-grandfather or grandfather) down through all sons, daughters, and spouses across multiple generations. It proves who has a legitimate coparcenary share in ancestral property under the Hindu Succession Act.
Understanding the distinct legal instruments for inheritance in India.
| Document | Issuing Body | Scope Covered | Primary Legal Utility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Tree (Vamshavruksha / Kursinama) | Tehsildar / Village Administrative Officer (VAO) | Comprehensive genealogical lineage across multiple generations | Agricultural land mutation, ancestral property partition |
| Legal Heir Certificate | Tehsildar / Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) | Immediate surviving heirs (Class-I) of a specific deceased person | Gratuity, pension, family bank deposits, transfer of utility bills |
| Succession Certificate | Competent Civil Court (Civil Judge Senior Division) | Judicial decree establishing entitlement to debts, shares, and securities | High-value disputed movable assets, mutual funds, company shares |
15 to 30 working days (includes village notice publication, spot inquiry by the Village Administrative Officer/Patwari, and Revenue Inspector verification).
Application fee of âš25 to âš50 on state revenue portals; physical stamp duty of âš20 to âš100 on the family tree affidavit.
Any individual belonging to a family having ancestral property, agricultural land, or lineage records within the territorial jurisdiction of the issuing Tehsildar.
Co-owners and legal heirs dividing ancestral farmland; purchasers conducting real estate title due diligence to verify that all surviving heirs sign the sale deed; applicants obtaining Caste Validity certificates; and litigants in civil batwara (partition) lawsuits.
Map out the complete family tree starting from the common root ancestor (e.g., Grandfather). Clearly depict all sons and daughters (both married and unmarried), deceased members (marked with cross/date of demise), and living heirs.
Have the primary applicant or eldest family member swear an affidavit before a Notary Public or Oath Commissioner certifying the truth of the tree and indemnifying the government against any undisclosed heirs.
Apply online via the state revenue service portal (e.g., Seva Sindhu in Karnataka, MeeSeva in AP/TS, or e-District) or submit physically at the Taluk Tehsildar / Nadakacheri office.
The Village Administrative Officer (VAO) or Patwari visits the village, inspects the ancestral land records, interviews village elders, and verifies whether any daughter, son, or second spouse has been excluded.
The Revenue Inspector reviews the inquiry report and publishes a local notice at the Gram Panchayat/Chavadi inviting objections within 15 days.
If zero objections are raised, the Tehsildar or Shirastedar signs and issues the official digital Family Tree Certificate bearing the state revenue emblem and unique verification number.
Excluding a married daughter or deceased sibling is illegal under the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005. To fix an incomplete tree:
The omitted heir submits an objection petition along with proof of birth and relationship (such as a school certificate naming the common father).
The revenue court summons the original applicant and conducts a spot inquiry.
The fraudulent or incomplete certificate is cancelled, and an amended Family Tree Certificate including all legitimate heirs is issued.
Citizens can download the digitally verified certificate directly from their citizen account:
Log in to Seva Sindhu (Karnataka), e-District, or your state's portal using your registered mobile number.
Input the Acknowledgement Number (e.g., RD0038...) received during submission.
Click 'Download Output Certificate'. The document features the digitized family diagram, official digital signature of the Tahsildar, and a 2D barcode for registry verification.
Solutions to typical revenue department hurdles.
| Problem Encountered | Root Cause | Recommended Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| VAO/Patwari refuses to conduct village inquiry | Statutory citizen charter timeline (Sakal / e-District) | File an appeal before the Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) citing Sakala or Right to Public Services timelines (typically 21-30 days). |
| Death certificate of grandfather who died in 1950 is unavailable | Revenue mutation records (Dakhil Kharij register) | Provide the historical mutation register extract (Warisan Panji) or village Kotwal book entry showing when the property passed to the next generation. |
| Objection raised by an estranged relative during notice period | Validity of claim of the objecting party | The Tehsildar convenes a summary revenue hearing. If a genuine dispute of title exists, the parties are directed to the Civil Court to obtain a declaratory decree. |
| Sub-registrar rejects the tree during property sale registration | Check whether all living heirs on the tree signed the sale deed | Under property law, all coparceners on the tree must either execute the sale deed as co-sellers or sign a registered Relinquishment Deed / Release Deed. |
A Legal Heir Certificate only lists the immediate surviving family members (spouse, children, and mother) of a person who recently died. A Family Tree (Vamshavruksha) is a comprehensive genealogical chart that maps out multiple generations (great-grandparents, grand-uncles, cousins, nephews, and siblings) to establish legal rights in ancestral coparcenary property.
Yes, absolutely. Under the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act, 2005 and the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma, daughters are coparceners by birth with equal rights as sons. Any family tree that omits married or unmarried daughters is legally flawed and will be rejected by courts and registries.
The certificate is issued by the Taluk Tehsildar, Executive Magistrate, or Revenue Inspector (RI) based on a verified field inquiry report submitted by the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) or Patwari.
The historical lineage recorded on a Family Tree Certificate has permanent validity. However, if a birth, marriage, or demise occurs in the family after issuance, an updated certificate reflecting the current state of living heirs must be obtained.
Yes. While primarily used for land revenue records, non-landowning families can obtain an attested Family Tree from the Executive Magistrate or Tehsildar based on residence and ration records for the purpose of claiming bank deposits or Caste Validity certification.
Statutory codification of coparcenary rights, equal devolution of ancestral property to daughters, and order of succession.
Checked on November 4, 2026
View Reference Document âStatutory rules governing village land records, mutation of rights (Pahani/Jamabandi), and genealogical pedigree certifications.
Checked on November 4, 2026
View Reference Document âRevenue-office certificate (Tehsildar / SDM) naming the surviving family members of a deceased person, used for pension, bank, insurance and utility claims
Civil-court certificate under Part X of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 that lets an heir collect the deceased's debts and securities (bank deposits, shares, debentures)
What 'heirship certificate' means in practice: a civil-court certificate in Maharashtra and Gujarat, and another name for a legal heir certificate elsewhere
Statutory scrutiny certificate issued by the District Caste Scrutiny Committee validating the authenticity of a Caste Certificate for professional college admissions (NEET/JEE) and reserved government employment
Legal documents for property transfer
Official honorific revenue certificate issued by the District Magistrate or State Freedom Fighter Cell certifying lineage of an officially recognized freedom fighter, unlocking 2% statutory job quotas and free rail travel
Issued by the Revenue Department (Tahsildar / Taluk Executive Magistrate / Revenue Inspector) under State Land Revenue Codes (such as Section 133 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964; Shajra Nasab in Punjab/Haryana; or Vamshavruksha across Southern states).
Apply on State Revenue Portal (Seva Sindhu) â