A succession certificate unlocks a deceased person's bank accounts, shares and securities. This guide explains the NADRA and court routes, the documents needed, fees, timelines, and what to do when heirs disagree or live abroad.

When a person dies in Pakistan, their bank account is usually frozen, their shares cannot be transferred, and no institution will hand over money on a relative's word alone. The document that unlocks these assets is the succession certificate — proof, recognised by banks and institutions, of who the legal heirs are. This is general information, not advice for your particular situation.

What a succession certificate is — and what it is not

Under the Succession Act, 1925, a succession certificate authorises its holder to collect debts and securities owed to the deceased — bank balances, prize bonds, shares, and similar movable assets. It is not a declaration of ownership of land or houses. For immovable property, the parallel document is a letter of administration. Both now come through the same NADRA process described below, while the court route remains available under the 1925 Act.

Two limits matter. First, a certificate does not settle a disputed title: if heirs disagree about who inherits or in what shares, that dispute is decided by a court. Second, a certificate covers only the debts and securities listed in it — assets discovered later need the certificate to be extended or a fresh application.

The two routes: NADRA or the court

Since the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act, 2020, most undisputed cases go through NADRA's Succession Facilitation Units. The court route under the Succession Act, 1925 remains the route where NADRA cannot act:

  • NADRA route: faster and administrative, suitable where all heirs agree, everyone can be biometrically verified, and the estate is undisputed. In Sindh, NADRA succession applications are generally filed through legal counsel.
  • Court route: needed where heirs dispute the shares, an heir is a minor, NADRA has issued a decline certificate, or an heir wishes to surrender their share to another heir.

The NADRA route, step by step

One legal heir applies, with authorisation from the other heirs, at a NADRA Succession Facilitation Unit:

  • File the application with the death certificate, the deceased's CNIC cancellation record, the Family Registration Certificate (FRC), CNIC copies of all heirs, and details of every asset.
  • Biometric verification of every heir. Each legal heir must be verified — at any NADRA centre in Pakistan, through the Pak ID mobile app, or, for heirs abroad, at a designated Pakistan mission. One unverified heir stalls the whole case.
  • Public notice. NADRA publishes a notice inviting objections and waits out the objection period of about 14 days.
  • Issuance. If no objection is received and the file is complete, NADRA issues the certificate or letter of administration, verifiable by banks through a QR code.

For a complete, undisputed application, issuance generally follows within a few weeks of the public notice. The most common delay is an incomplete file — a missing CNIC, an uncancelled CNIC of the deceased, or a defective FRC.

The court route, step by step

Under Sections 371 to 373 of the Succession Act, 1925, the petition goes to the District Judge within whose jurisdiction the deceased ordinarily resided at death, or, if there was no fixed residence, where any part of the property is found. The petition, signed and verified like a plaint, must state the time of death, the deceased's residence, the family and near relatives with their residences, the right in which the petitioner claims, the absence of any impediment to the grant, and the debts and securities concerned.

The judge fixes a hearing date, serves notice on persons who should be heard, and posts notice at the courthouse. After hearing, if the right is established, the court orders the grant of the certificate. This route is slower, but it is the only one where contested questions of entitlement can be decided.

Documents you will need

  • Death certificate of the deceased (from NADRA/Union Council).
  • CNIC cancellation certificate of the deceased.
  • Family Registration Certificate (FRC) — by birth and by marriage where applicable.
  • CNIC copies of every legal heir.
  • Details of all assets: bank account numbers, share certificates, bonds, and property documents.
  • Authorisation letter or affidavit from the heirs, attested by an oath commissioner.
  • For the court route: the petition, affidavit, and court fee challan.

Fees and timelines — the honest version

NADRA's official fee schedule lists around Rs. 10,000 where the assets are worth less than Rs. 100,000 and around Rs. 20,000 where they are worth Rs. 100,000 or more, with a duplicate or amended certificate around Rs. 5,000. Publication and per-asset charges may add on. Note that a 2024 Sindh High Court ruling questioned these fees in Sindh, so confirm the current fee with NADRA before applying. Court fees are calculated on the value of the estate — confirm the current rate with the district court.

Your practical checklist

  • Get the death certificate and the deceased's CNIC cancellation done first — nothing moves without them.
  • Obtain a correct FRC before applying; a defective FRC is the commonest cause of delay.
  • List every asset, including small accounts — assets left out need a fresh or extended application.
  • Make sure every heir completes biometric verification early.
  • Decide the route honestly: if there is any dispute or a minor heir, go to court rather than NADRA.
  • Confirm the current NADRA fee and the court fee before filing — both change.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a succession certificate and a letter of administration?

A succession certificate covers movable assets — debts and securities such as bank balances and shares. A letter of administration covers immovable property. Both come through the same NADRA process; the court route remains available for both.

Can I apply if one heir lives abroad?

Yes. All heirs must still be biometrically verified, but heirs abroad can verify at a designated Pakistan mission or through the Pak ID app. In Sindh, the application is generally filed through legal counsel.

How long does the NADRA process take?

For a complete, undisputed file, issuance generally follows within a few weeks of the public notice, after a roughly 14-day objection period.

What happens if someone objects or NADRA declines my case?

The matter moves to the civil court under the Succession Act, 1925, where the District Judge decides entitlement.

Related guides

Need guidance on your situation? A frozen bank account or a disputed estate does not wait — and a wrong first filing costs months. Contact us to book a confidential consultation and get your succession application filed correctly the first time.

Common questions

A succession certificate covers movable assets — debts and securities such as bank balances and shares. A letter of administration covers immovable property. Both are issued through the same NADRA process, and the court route under the Succession Act, 1925 remains available for both.

Yes. All heirs must still be biometrically verified, but heirs abroad can verify at a designated Pakistan mission or through the Pak ID app. In Sindh, the application itself is generally filed through legal counsel.

For a complete, undisputed application, issuance generally follows within a few weeks of the public notice, after a roughly 14-day objection period. Missing documents or an unverified heir are the usual causes of delay.

The matter moves to the civil court under the Succession Act, 1925, where the District Judge hears the parties and decides entitlement. An objection or a decline certificate is a change of forum, not a refusal of your rights.

Related guides

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