Succession Certificate in Pakistan — NADRA & Court Procedure
A succession certificate authorizes legal heirs to collect a deceased person's movable assets — bank accounts, savings certificates, shares, insurance and vehicles; letters of administration serve the same role for immovable property. Since the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act 2021, uncontested cases are processed through NADRA's Succession Facilitation Units in weeks, while contested cases proceed in civil court under the Succession Act 1925. IMAAR's lawyers handle both routes — including for heirs living abroad.
- Attorney of the High Court
- Lahore Bar No. 7712-A
- 16+ Years
- Overseas Heirs Handled
Which Route Applies to Your Family?
| NADRA route (2021 Act) | Court route (Succession Act 1925) | |
|---|---|---|
| When | All legal heirs agree; no dispute; heirs traceable | Any heir objects, is missing, or a dispute/complication exists (e.g., disputed marriage, will, minor heirs' issues) |
| Where | NADRA Succession Facilitation Unit | Civil Court of the district |
| Verification | Family Registration Certificate + biometric verification of heirs + public notice | Evidence, witnesses, citations/objections, court decision |
| Typical time | Weeks (after notice period, if no objection) | Longer — depends on contest and evidence |
| Covers | Succession certificate (movables) / Letters of administration (immovables) | Same instruments, by court order |
Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act 2021 — NADRA's power to issue in uncontested cases; Succession Act 1925, s.372 — court applications for succession certificates; Islamic law of inheritance / personal law — determination of heirs' shares.
Step-by-Step Procedure
- Document collection. Death certificate, deceased's CNIC, all heirs' CNICs, and asset details (bank letters, certificates, share statements, vehicle documents).
- Family Registration Certificate (FRC). Obtained from NADRA, establishing the complete list of legal heirs — errors here stall everything, so we audit it first.
- Application. Uncontested: filed at the NADRA Succession Facilitation Unit with biometric verification of heirs. Contested/complex: petition under s.372 before the civil court.
- Notice & objections. Public notice issues inviting objections within the prescribed period (court route: citations to heirs and general public).
- Issuance. No objection → certificate/letters issue. Objection → the matter is contested, and we conduct the court proceedings.
- Asset release & distribution. We present the certificate to banks/institutions, secure release, and document distribution among heirs per their Sharia shares — preventing the family disputes that so often follow.
Heirs Living Abroad
Most of our succession clients include at least one heir overseas. Court-route cases proceed fully through an embassy-attested Special Power of Attorney. For the NADRA route, biometric verification requirements apply to heirs, with facilitation arrangements for overseas Pakistanis — we assess your family's situation and advise the workable route before anyone books a flight. Related: property transfer and inheritance disputes · heirs' tax matters on inherited assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a succession certificate and when do I need it?
Can I get it from NADRA instead of court?
How long does it take?
What are the legal heirs' shares?
An heir is hiding assets or refusing to cooperate. What now?
Settle Your Family's Inheritance Properly
Free first consultation — we assess your documents, confirm the right route (NADRA or court), and quote a fixed written fee.
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Content reviewed by Abdur Rehman Sandhu, Attorney of the High Court. Last reviewed: July 2026. General information, not legal advice for your specific case.