Hindu Succession Act 1956

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Is there a tax-friendly method for dividing my mother’s property?

The following article was first published in the Mint newspaper on 15th August, 2023. The same was written by our Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, who frequently publish their comments and opinions in the Mint. The online version of the article can be found here.

My father, my sister and I are the sole legal heirs of my mother’s immoveable property situated in Delhi. My father wishes that the said property or realizable value thereof may be shared equally by both the children. What is the suitable, tax-friendly method of achieving this division of property? One simple way could be that my father signs a deed of relinquishment before the mutation of the property. Is there any other alternative method that will be tax efficient and would not entail payment of stamp duty or any other levies?

—Name withheld on requestContinue Reading Is there a tax-friendly method for dividing my mother’s property?

Untangling the legal heirship certificate conundrum in Tamil Nadu

A legal heirship certificate is an essential document, sought by the legal heirs of a deceased individual for processing intestate succession related application in government offices. The process of applying for and obtaining a legal heirship certificate is by itself an arduous process and is riddled with a plethora of unresolved questions. The most significant of them is the issuance of legal heirship certificate to Class II legal heirs when there are no surviving Class I legal heirs.
Continue Reading Untangling the legal heirship certificate conundrum in Tamil Nadu

How to deal with claims on a property when there is no will.

The following article was first published in the Mint newspaper on 10th August, 2022. The same was written by our Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, who frequently publish their comments and opinions in the Mint. The online version of the article can be found here.

My great-grandfather had two sons and three daughters. He had purchased a property in 1980 but died without leaving a will. Recently, both his sons and a daughter died. The other two daughters are claiming a share of that property from my father and uncles. The property has been maintained by my grandfather, my father and uncles for the past 35 years. The two had been given a fixed amount of cash along with some jewellery by my grandfather but that is not recorded anywhere. What can we do in such a situation?

—Name withheld on request
Continue Reading How to deal with claims on a property when there is no will

Intestate
Source: Livemint.com

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 March, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

How will the property of a man who has died intestate and is survived by an elder brother having sons and a daughter, besides the sons of a predeceased elder sister,  be divided? Do the sons of the late sister have equal rights as those of the elder brother?

—Name withheld on request Continue Reading Who is the legal heir of a man dying intestate?

property rights
Source: Livemint.com

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 9th March, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My father had booked a flat in Mumbai many years ago but died before he could get possession. A year later, the builder handed over the flat to my mother, who currently lives there. The flat is still registered in my father’s name. What are the legalities involved in transferring the flat to her name. Also, should I have to give a NOC or power of attorney (POA) to my mother? 

— Name withheld on requestContinue Reading Should you execute PoA to relinquish property rights?

If my brother-in-law died intestate, who will be the legal heir?
Source: Livemint.com

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

Siblings get estate in intestacy if parents pre-decease owner
Source: Livemint.com

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 04th August, 2021 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My elder brother and his wife died recently. They don’t have any children and have not left behind a Will. We were three brothers of whom now I am the sole survivor. We also have two sisters who are married. Now, who will be the successor to my late brother’s property, including movable and immovable assets?

—Name withheld on requestContinue Reading Siblings get estate in intestacy if parents pre-decease owner

In your Will, add a guardian for minor children
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions in the  following article which was published by Livemint and the online edition of the same can be found here.

A disturbing trend from the second wave of covid is the increasing number of orphaned and vulnerable minor children across India. While some minors have lost both their parents, others are in a situation where their surviving parent is unable to take care of oneself or the family. Families are often confused and scared about what to do in such scenarios. Parents admitted to certain hospitals are being made to sign declarations about their children’s ‘custody’ if they do not survive.

Continue Reading In your Will, add a guardian for minor children

If your aunt wants to bequeath her house to your mother, she will have to execute a will

The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions shared in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 18th February, 2021 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My 70-year-old maternal aunt is unmarried and has a house in which she, my mother, younger brother and I have been staying together since 2002. The aunt is my maternal grandfather’s sister’s daughter. My mother has an elder brother too. My aunt inherited the house from her mother. What will be the status of the house when she passes away? Will my mother still have the right to stay in it? My mother and aunt have an “either survivor bank account” and locker, in which they keep their money and valuables. What will happen to that account in case of my aunt’s death?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading If your aunt wants to bequeath her house to your mother, she will have to execute a will

A daughter has an equal right to that of a son on ancestral property
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The Private Client team at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas shares their comments and opinions shared in an article in the  following Q&A which was published by the Mint Newspaper on 1st September, 2020 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My husband has one brother and one sister. Due to some family issues between my mother-in-law and me, we are not in contact since 2013. In 2017, we came to know that my father-in-law has given all his retirement money to my brother-in-law to purchase a flat worth ₹24 lakh. My in-laws stayed in their ancestor property. Can we get a share in this ancestral property?

—Name withheld on request
Continue Reading A daughter has an equal right to that of a son on ancestral property