Ancestral Property
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 13th February, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

I have a query on Hindu Succession act: My mother has 6 brothers and 2 sisters, of which only 4 are alive including my mother. So Originally 9 children including my mother, Each of the brothers and sisters have children in the range of 2 to 9, I am aware that at this point my mother and the other 3 living siblings are righteous claimants on the ancestral property under Class-1.

Now my question is, – When my mother and the other siblings are no more, then how will the property be distributed?

My mother’s eldest brother has 9 children and her other siblings have an average of 2-3. So, if the total number of children all put together is 30, will it still be divided by 30 or will it be divided by 9 (i.e. my mother’s share and her 8 siblings)?

— A. Shankar

Continue Reading How will maternal grandparents property be distributed under Indian law?

Deceased Policyholder
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 30th January, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

One of my friend’s relatives took an insurance policy with a public insurer in 2013 and she paid two payments and the third payment was not paid by the insurance agent. Later, she passed away due to health issues. She had only one daughter, who is a minor and nominee too. Can she claim her mother’s insurance, as she got to know about her mother’s insurance policy a week ago?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading Family member as nominee of deceased policyholder will not merely be custodian

Karta
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 23rd January, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My mother is a widow. My father expired 10 years ago. We are two (major) sons and a married daughter. We brothers have created a HUF with an initial capital of 50,000 received as a gift in marriage. Can my mother create a HUF being a karta and we two sons as coparcener?

-Pinrani

Continue Reading Can my mother be the karta of the HUF?

HUF
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 18th January, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My father-in-law died of covid on 6 September 2020 and my mother-in-law died on 13 December 2020. My wife is their only daughter. I need some clarity on the following:

a. My father-in-law had some HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) bank accounts and mutual funds. How do my wife or I run the accounts or withdraw the money.

b. My father-in-law has some shares and bank accounts in which his brother or sister-in-law are the nominees. How do I claim those from them?

– Kapil R. Tulsan

Continue Reading How can I withdraw money from HUF accounts of in-laws?

Can a Will be written from overseas
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 16th January, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

Me and my family (wife and son) are NRIs based in Sweden. I have properties and movable assets in India. Can I write a Will on plain paper while I am in Sweden with respect to my assets? Is it okay to get it witnessed by my other NRI friends from India, based in Sweden, for the time being? What are other precautions to be taken when writing a Will from overseas with respect to assets and liabilities in India?

– Narsinh Modani

Continue Reading Can a Will be written from overseas?

Can I appoint an executor to a Will myself
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 3rd January, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

I would like to have a legal Will draft format. I want to know if I can register a Will and appoint an executor by myself or do I need a lawyer for the same?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading Can I appoint an executor to a Will myself?

What happens to the FD account if the deposit holder dies
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 8th November, 2021 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

If the first account holder of a fixed deposit dies, who will become the owner of the account? Is it the second account holder or all the legal heirs of the first account holder?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading What happens to the FD account if the deposit holder dies?

If my brother-in-law died intestate, who will be the legal heir?
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 24th November, 2021 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My brother-in-law passed away suddenly and has not left any Will. He has a house in his name which is under mortgage for a loan. He is survived by his wife, a son who is a major and his mother. The house isn’t an ancestral property. It is a Hindu family. If the house is sold after a few years of the death of his mother, who will be the legal heirs for the money? Will it be my sister and her son only or will the legal heirs of the mother (another son and two daughters) also be a part?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading If my brother-in-law died intestate, who will be the legal heir?

Two witnesses need to be present for executing a gift deed
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 10th November, 2021 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My father wants to transfer our house to my sister as a gift deed. I’m willing to sign a no objection certificate for the same. My father cannot hold a steady hand while writing or signing and is not able to get up on his own, let alone walk. The house is in my father’s name. My sister has been caring for my mother and father for years now. Somebody said that we should hire a pro for video recording if my father cannot go to the registration office to sign the gift deed. It could cost 30,000-40,000. Would his thumb impression taken at home be enough? What is the right process to follow?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading Two witnesses need to be present for executing a gift deed

A will can help in ensuring smooth transition of assets
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 27th October, 2021 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My question is regarding my share in a house built by my father. The said house was built in 1990 and registered in the name of my mother and my elder brother (I was a minor then). My father passed away in 2016 and all immovable assets were transferred in my mother’s name. My mother has always maintained that all her assets, movable and immovable, be shared equally between us brothers. She has not made any Will and I do not feel comfortable asking her to make one either. My question is that in the absence of any Will, what is my share in the said house? Since the house is registered jointly in the name of my brother and my mother, she legally owns half of the house. Will my share amount to half of her share, i.e 50% of 50% = 25% or will it be her complete share, i.e 50%?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading A will can help in ensuring smooth transition of assets