What is a legal heir certificate called in Maharashtra?

Maharashtra does not issue a document called a legal heir certificate. The equivalent is the Legal Heir Certificate / Warasan Certificate (Warasan, or heirship certificate), issued by the Tahsildar, on the Talathi's enquiry and report. Ask for it by that name — asking for a legal heir certificate is why families are turned away at the counter.

Who issues the legal heir certificate / warasan certificate in Maharashtra?

The Tahsildar, on the Talathi's enquiry and report. Applications are made through Aaple Sarkar, or in person at the relevant office.

How long does a legal heir certificate take in Maharashtra, and what does it cost?

Commonly reported at 15 to 30 days, driven by the Talathi enquiry. Nominal — a court fee stamp on the application, plus the cost of the notarised affidavit. Both are reported figures rather than a published guarantee. Availability of the online service genuinely differs between districts, and so does whether a court fee stamp is required on the form. Confirm with the Tahsildar's office for the taluka where the deceased lived, not a neighbouring one.

Will a Maharashtra legal heir certificate / warasan certificate be enough to claim a bank account?

Often, yes — below the threshold the bank has fixed, a heir certificate with an indemnity bond and no-objection letters from the other heirs is usually accepted, and no court order is needed. Above that threshold the bank can insist on a succession certificate from a civil court. Ask the branch in writing which applies to your case before starting anything.

How do I get a legal heir certificate in Maharashtra?

The reliable route in Maharashtra is the Tahsildar's office, on an enquiry and report by the Talathi for the village or ward where the deceased lived. Aaple Sarkar is the state's citizen services portal and lists Revenue Department services, but whether this particular certificate is available online varies by district — which is why published guidance on it contradicts itself. Treat the online portal as worth checking first and the Tahsildar's office as the route that actually works.

At a glance

Called: Legal Heir Certificate / Warasan Certificate · Warasan, or heirship certificate
Issued by: Tahsildar, on the Talathi's enquiry and report
Apply at: Aaple Sarkar
Reported cost: Nominal — a court fee stamp on the application, plus the cost of the notarised affidavit
Reported time: Commonly reported at 15 to 30 days, driven by the Talathi enquiry

Cost and time are what families report, not figures the state publishes as a commitment. Availability of the online service genuinely differs between districts, and so does whether a court fee stamp is required on the form. Confirm with the Tahsildar's office for the taluka where the deceased lived, not a neighbouring one.

What you will need

Death certificate issued by the municipal corporation or gram panchayat
Identity and address proof of every heir being named
A notarised self-declaration affidavit on stamp paper listing all heirs
Address proof of the deceased, establishing the taluka or ward
The application form, with a court fee stamp affixed where the office requires one

What is different in Maharashtra

Do not assume the online service exists in your district. Sources disagree on whether the legal heir certificate is offered through Aaple Sarkar at all, and the honest reading is that availability is uneven. Check the portal, and if the service is not listed for your taluka, that is not an error on your part — go to the Tahsildar.

The Talathi's report is the step that decides the timeline. The Talathi verifies locally who survived the deceased, and an affidavit that already names every heir consistently with their identity documents is what makes that quick.

Maharashtra families claiming movable assets in Mumbai should ask the institution specifically what it will accept before starting anything — practice in the city differs from the rest of the state, and the answer determines whether a revenue certificate is enough.

Will this be enough, or do you need a court?

A heir certificate is a revenue document, not a court order, and for most families it is enough. Under the RBI (Settlement of Claims in respect of Deceased Customers of Banks) Directions, 2025, every bank has to fix a threshold below which it settles a deceased customer’s account without sending the family to court — and that threshold cannot be lower than ₹15 lakh at a scheduled bank, or ₹5 lakh at a co-operative bank.

That is the regulatory floor, not a promise: a bank may set its limit higher, and the figure it applies to your case is the one its own policy names. Ask the branch in writing what their limit is before you assume you need a court.

Below the limit, the bank works from a claim form, the death certificate, identity proof, an indemnity bond and no-objection letters from the heirs who are not claiming. Above it, it can require a succession certificate — a civil court petition that realistically takes six months or more. That gap is the whole reason it is worth asking before you file anything.

Common questions

What is a legal heir certificate called in Maharashtra?: Maharashtra does not issue a document called a legal heir certificate. The equivalent is the Legal Heir Certificate / Warasan Certificate (Warasan, or heirship certificate), issued by the Tahsildar, on the Talathi's enquiry and report. Ask for it by that name — asking for a legal heir certificate is why families are turned away at the counter.
Who issues the legal heir certificate / warasan certificate in Maharashtra?: The Tahsildar, on the Talathi's enquiry and report. Applications are made through Aaple Sarkar, or in person at the relevant office.
How long does a legal heir certificate take in Maharashtra, and what does it cost?: Commonly reported at 15 to 30 days, driven by the Talathi enquiry. Nominal — a court fee stamp on the application, plus the cost of the notarised affidavit. Both are reported figures rather than a published guarantee. Availability of the online service genuinely differs between districts, and so does whether a court fee stamp is required on the form. Confirm with the Tahsildar's office for the taluka where the deceased lived, not a neighbouring one.
Will a Maharashtra legal heir certificate / warasan certificate be enough to claim a bank account?: Often, yes — below the threshold the bank has fixed, a heir certificate with an indemnity bond and no-objection letters from the other heirs is usually accepted, and no court order is needed. Above that threshold the bank can insist on a succession certificate from a civil court. Ask the branch in writing which applies to your case before starting anything.

Find out what your case needs

The free check works out what each heir inherits and which documents each institution on your list will ask for — in about two minutes.

Check my caseFree · no account needed

Other states

For the national picture — what the certificate proves, and when an institution will want a succession certificate instead — see the legal heir certificate guide.

Verified 2026-09-15 against the Aaple Sarkar portal and the state’s own published guidance. This is general information, not legal advice. State procedure is revised without notice — confirm at the office before you file.