What a succession certificate actually does
When someone passes away, banks, companies and vehicle registrars do not hand over accounts, shares or vehicles to “the family” on a verbal claim. A succession certificate is NADRA-issued proof of who the legal heirs are and what share each one gets — and it is the document that unlocks the deceased’s movable assets. For immovable property, NADRA issues a separate letter of administration under the same system.
Who counts as a legal heir
Legal heirs are determined by the personal law applicable to the deceased — for Muslims, the spouse, children and parents take first, with siblings and other relatives following in the absence of closer heirs. Shares are fixed by inheritance rules, not by family agreement, so getting the shares computed correctly at the start prevents objections later.
The NADRA process, step by step
Under the 2020 succession facilitation law, the process runs through NADRA’s Succession Facilitation Units. First, an application with the death certificate, the deceased’s and heirs’ CNIC details and a list of assets. Second, biometric verification of all legal heirs. Third, a public notice inviting objections — usually about 14 days. Fourth, issuance of the certificate with a QR code that banks and institutions can verify. In Sindh, applications are generally routed through legal counsel.
Documents you will need
Keep these ready before you apply: the death certificate, the deceased’s CNIC cancellation record, the Family Registration Certificate (FRC), CNIC copies of all legal heirs, details of all movable and immovable assets, and an authorization or affidavit where required. Incomplete files are the single biggest cause of delay.
Fee and timeline — the honest version
NADRA’s official schedule charges around Rs. 20,000 where assets are worth Rs. 100,000 or more, and around Rs. 10,000 below that threshold — though a 2024 Sindh High Court ruling questioned these fees, so confirm the current amount with NADRA before applying. Where all heirs cooperate and biometrics verify cleanly, issuance generally takes a few weeks from the public notice.
When the court route is still needed
If heirs dispute the shares, an heir is a minor, or NADRA issues a decline certificate, the matter goes to the civil court under the Succession Act, 1925 — the traditional, slower route. Our property and succession team handles both tracks; see our Property & Succession practice for how we take these matters from application to transfer.
Key Takeaways
- Succession certificate (movable assets) and letter of administration (immovable property) both come from NADRA now.
- All legal heirs must complete biometric verification.
- A ~14-day public notice invites objections before issuance.
- Disputed estates or minors still go through the civil court.
- Get heir shares computed under the correct personal law before applying.
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