When a loved one passes away, their bank accounts, property, and other assets do not transfer to the heirs automatically. Two legal instruments unlock them — a Succession Certificate for movable assets and a Letter of Administration for immovable property — and both can now be obtained through NADRA or the civil courts.
This guide explains the difference between the two, who can apply, and the complete step-by-step process through both routes — including documents, fees, timelines, and the procedure for overseas Pakistanis. For tailored help, our team at GNS Law Associates handles succession matters in Karachi for local and overseas families.
1 Succession Laws in Pakistan
Who inherits, and in what share, depends on the personal law of the deceased:
- For Muslims, distribution follows the Islamic law of inheritance (faraid) applicable to the deceased's sect — you can estimate each heir's share in minutes with our Muslim inheritance calculator.
- For non-Muslims, succession is governed by their respective personal laws.
The procedure for formally claiming the estate is governed by the Succession Act, 1925 and, since 2021, by the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act, 2021 (with provincial equivalents such as the Sindh Act of 2021), which is what allowed NADRA to start issuing these documents alongside the courts.
🧮Before you start: knowing each heir's share helps you list assets correctly on the application. Try our free Muslim Inheritance Calculator to work out the faraid distribution for your family.
2 Succession Certificate vs Letter of Administration
For movable assetsSuccession Certificate
Lets heirs claim the deceased's movable property and debts:
- Bank balances & lockers
- Shares, bonds, savings certificates
- Insurance, salary & pension dues
- Vehicles
For immovable propertyLetter of Administration
Authorises an administrator to manage and transfer immovable estate:
- Houses & residential plots
- Agricultural land
- Shops & commercial property
- Especially where there is no will
✦In short: movable assets → Succession Certificate; immovable property → Letter of Administration. Where the estate has both, two separate documents are issued.
3 Who Can Apply?
The legal heirs of the deceased are eligible to apply. Depending on the family, these may include:
- The surviving spouse (widow or widower);
- Children and parents;
- Siblings, in certain cases; and
- Grandchildren, where their parent has predeceased.
Heirs must prove their relationship to the deceased and, on the NADRA route, appear for biometric verification.
4 Two Routes to Obtain It
🏛️
Faster · undisputedNADRA
Succession Facilitation Units issue both certificates where heirs are not in dispute. Both Pakistani citizenship and Pakistan-based assets are required.
⚖️
Disputes · complex estatesCivil Court
The traditional route under the Succession Act, 1925 — and the necessary one if heirs disagree or NADRA issues a Decline Certificate.
5 Route 1 — Through NADRA
Introduced under the 2021 law, NADRA's Succession Facilitation Units offer a faster, court-free path for undisputed estates — issuing a Succession Certificate for movable assets and a Letter of Administration for immovable property.
📍Karachi note: in Sindh and Balochistan, NADRA succession applications must be filed through legal counsel — so a lawyer is part of the NADRA route here, not just the court route.
- Apply at a NADRA Succession Unit
File at a notified unit in the relevant jurisdiction (in Sindh, via your lawyer). Eligibility: deceased and heirs are Pakistani citizens, assets in Pakistan, and no dispute among heirs.
- Submit the documents
- Death certificate of the deceased
- CNIC cancellation certificate of the deceased (from NADRA)
- Family Registration Certificate (FRC)
- List of legal heirs with CNIC copies
- Details of all movable and immovable property
- Authorisation/affidavit attested by an Oath Commissioner
- Biometric verification
All legal heirs attend for biometric verification, validated against the Family Registration Certificate.
- Public notice
NADRA publishes a notice (web portal and/or newspapers) inviting objections.
- Issuance
If no objection is received within the notice period (about 14 days), NADRA issues the certificate(s) digitally, with a QR code for verification by banks and institutions.
NADRA fee (govt)
~Rs. 20,000+
This is the official NADRA fee only (plus per-asset and publication charges). The advocate's professional fee is separate — and in Sindh, counsel is part of the NADRA route.
↪If a dispute arises or NADRA issues a Decline Certificate, the matter moves to the Civil Court route below.
6 Route 2 — Through the Civil Court
This is the route for disputed estates, complex cases, or where NADRA has declined. It is more involved but resolves contested claims definitively.
- Engage a lawyer
Your advocate drafts the petition and represents the heirs throughout.
- Prepare the documents
- CNICs of the deceased and all heirs
- Death certificate and Family Registration Certificate
- List of assets (accounts, securities, property, vehicles)
- Proof of relationship (birth/marriage certificates)
- Affidavits of the legal heirs on stamp paper
- File the petition
A petition is filed in the relevant civil court — under Section 372 of the Succession Act, 1925 for a succession certificate, or for Letters of Administration for the estate.
- Public notice
The court orders a notice in national newspapers inviting objections, usually within 14–21 days.
- Statements of heirs
If no objection is received, the heirs record their statements before the court.
- Verification & grant
Once satisfied, the court issues the Succession Certificate or Letter of Administration.
- Collect & use
Collect certified copies and present them to banks, registrars, and relevant departments.
7 NADRA vs Court — At a Glance
| Feature | Succession Certificate | Letter of Administration |
|---|
| Covers | Movable assets (bank funds, shares, savings, vehicles, dues) | Immovable property (house, land, shops, plots) |
| Legal basis | Succession Act 1925; 2021 Act | Succession Act 1925; 2021 Act |
| Who can issue | NADRA (undisputed) or Civil Court | NADRA (undisputed) or Civil Court |
| If heirs dispute | Civil Court | Civil Court |
| Biometric check | Required on the NADRA route | Required on the NADRA route |
| Typical time | 15–30 days (NADRA) / 30–90 (court) | 15–30 days (NADRA) / 30–90 (court) |
8 For Overseas Pakistanis
Heirs living abroad need not travel back to handle the matter. They can appoint a trusted relative or their lawyer through a Special Power of Attorney, executed and attested at the Pakistani embassy or consulate, who then pursues the certificate on their behalf.
9 Common Challenges & Tips
- Family disputes among heirs — the most common reason a NADRA application fails and moves to court;
- Forged or competing claims over the estate;
- Delays in newspaper publication of the public notice;
- Disputed ownership of immovable property; and
- Missing bank records or unclear asset details.
✦Tip: keep property and financial records updated and ensure bank and pension nomination forms are filled accurately — it prevents most of the delays above. If the deceased left a registered will, it must be produced for the court to verify.
Key TakeawayThe short version
- Movable assets → Succession Certificate; immovable property → Letter of Administration.
- NADRA issues both for undisputed estates (faster); courts handle disputes and complex cases.
- In Sindh, even the NADRA route is filed through a lawyer.
- Overseas heirs can act through a Special Power of Attorney attested at the embassy.
10 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a succession certificate and a letter of administration?
A succession certificate covers the deceased's movable assets — bank funds, shares, savings, vehicles, and dues. A letter of administration covers immovable property such as houses, land, and shops. Where an estate has both, two separate documents are issued.
Can NADRA issue a letter of administration for property?
Yes. Since the Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act, 2021, NADRA's Succession Facilitation Units can issue both a succession certificate (movable) and a letter of administration (immovable), provided the heirs are not in dispute and the deceased and heirs are Pakistani citizens with assets in Pakistan.
How long does it take?
The NADRA route typically takes around 15–30 working days. The court route usually takes 30–90 days, and longer if there are objections or disputes among heirs.
How much does it cost through NADRA?
NADRA charges an official processing fee in the region of Rs. 20,000, plus additional sums for the public notice and per-asset processing. That is the government fee only — the advocate's professional fee is separate. The court route involves court fees, stamp duty, and lawyer's fees that vary with the estate.
What if the heirs disagree?
NADRA only handles undisputed estates. If there is any dispute — or NADRA issues a Decline Certificate — the matter must be pursued through the civil court, which can adjudicate the competing claims.
I live abroad — do I have to come to Pakistan?
Not necessarily. You can grant a Special Power of Attorney, attested at the Pakistani embassy or consulate, authorising a relative or your lawyer to handle the application on your behalf.
How can GNS Law Associates help?
We handle the full process in Karachi — NADRA applications (filed through counsel in Sindh) and civil-court petitions, document preparation, and representation for both local and overseas clients — from start to certificate.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create a lawyer–client relationship. Procedures, fees, and timelines vary by jurisdiction and the facts of each estate. For advice on your situation, consult a qualified advocate.
