Tehsildar / SDM revenue portal, Surviving Member Certificate, family pension claims & Succession distinction
Visit Official Portal →💡 A Legal Heir Certificate (also known as Surviving Member Certificate or Warisan Praman Patra) is an administrative statutory document issued by the local Revenue Authority (Tehsildar / SDM) within 15–30 days identifying the surviving legal heirs of a deceased person. It is mandatory for claiming family pensions, provident fund arrears, compassionate employment, insurance dues, and utility transfers.
15–30 working days (post-field inquiry by Revenue Inspector / Patwari / VAO)
₹20–₹100 (statutory e-District service and application fee depending on state)
Class I Legal Heirs of the deceased (Spouse, Sons, Daughters, and Mother) or surviving direct dependent family members
Surviving family members of a deceased individual to claim family pensions, gratuity and provident fund dues, salary arrears, insurance claims, compassionate employment in government service, transfer of utility connections, and mutation of revenue land records
Visit your state citizen services portal (e.g., e-District Delhi for 'Surviving Member Certificate', e-District UP for 'Varisan Praman Patra', Aaple Sarkar Maharashtra, TN e-Sevai Tamil Nadu, MeeSeva AP/Telangana).
Choose Revenue Department services and start the online application form.
Input date and place of death of the deceased, permanent address, and enter the demographic roster of all surviving Class I legal heirs.
Upload scanned copies of the Death Certificate, Aadhaar cards of all heirs, and the notarized family tree affidavit.
The application is routed to the local Village Administrative Officer (VAO) or Revenue Patwari who conducts a local neighborhood inquiry to verify genuine surviving family members.
Once the Revenue Inspector (RI) and Tehsildar approve the inquiry report, download the digitally signed, QR-coded Legal Heir Certificate PDF from the portal or DigiLocker.
How to add an omitted legal heir or correct clerical errors on an issued Legal Heir Certificate:
Approach the same Tehsildar / Sub-Divisional Magistrate office that issued the original certificate.
Provide a notarized joint affidavit from all existing heirs acknowledging the omitted family member.
The Revenue Patwari re-verifies the family lineage through local inquiry.
The Tehsildar issues a revised, QR-coded Legal Heir Certificate including all verified members.
Download an official digital Legal Heir / Surviving Member Certificate PDF online:
Visit your state portal (e.g., edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in, edistrict.up.gov.in, tnesevai.tn.gov.in).
Enter your Application Reference Number and Certificate ID.
Enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number.
Save and print the digital color certificate carrying the official electronic signature and QR verification code of the Tehsildar.
Track your Legal Heir / Surviving Member Certificate application status online:
Open your state portal and click 'Track Application Status'.
Input the 14-digit application reference ID.
Check whether your file is pending Patwari field inquiry, Revenue Inspector endorsement, or ready for Tehsildar digital signature.
1) Legal Heir Certificate (Surviving Member Certificate): Issued by the local Revenue Authority (Tehsildar / SDM / RDO) within 15–30 days. It officially identifies surviving family members and is used for family pension, gratuity, insurance claims, electricity/water transfer, and government jobs. 2) Succession Certificate: Issued exclusively by a competent District Civil Court under the Indian Succession Act 1925 taking 3–6 months with newspaper public notices. It is mandatory for transferring large movable financial assets, shares, mutual funds, and bank deposits where no nominee exists.
Under the Hindu Succession Act 1956, Class I legal heirs who inherit property equally include: 1) Widow (Wife), 2) Sons, 3) Daughters (both married and unmarried), 4) Mother of the deceased, 5) Children of predeceased son/daughter, and 6) Widow of predeceased son.
YES, absolutely. Following landmark Supreme Court judgments (including Vineeta Sharma vs Rakesh Sharma), married daughters have full equal coparcenary rights by birth and must mandatorily be listed in the Legal Heir Certificate.
In the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the Revenue Department issues the 'Surviving Member Certificate' via edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in. It is the official statutory equivalent of a Legal Heir Certificate certifying all living dependent members of the deceased.
Yes. Once approved by the Tehsildar, visit DigiLocker, search for your state's Revenue Department (e.g., e-District Delhi, Revenue Department UP), enter your Application Number and Certificate Number, and save the officially verified digital copy.
Visit the official government portal to start your application
Go to Official Portal →