How is property divided if any of the heirs die after a will is made
Source: Livemint.com

The following article was first published in the Mint newspaper on 18th October, 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 grandfather left a will in the name of my father in 1996 for one-third share in his property. My father died in 1997 leaving me, my sister and mother behind. My grandfather died in 2008 leaving behind his three children and a wife (my grandmother). As per my knowledge, the will isn’t registered with the sub-registrar. In 2022, the land was divided into five equal shares, with the will not coming into consideration. 

I want to understand whether the will is valid considering that my father died before my grandfather? Can the will leave its content to me, my sister and my mother since we are heirs of my father ? If yes, will my father’s share be considered in the two-third of the land that doesn’t show up in the will?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading How is property divided if any of the heirs die after a will is made?

Do FDs accrue interest after owner’s death
Source: Livemint.com

The following article was first published in the Mint newspaper on 4th October, 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 parents died and I am their nominee in the various fixed deposits (FDs) they left behind. The FDs will mature on different dates in the next two years. Can I withdraw an FD at the time of maturity? What would be rate of interest payable on these deposits from the date of death of parents till the maturity date. Also, is it compulsory for the nominee to withdraw all FDs after the death of the holder?

—Name withheld on request

Continue Reading Do FDs accrue interest after owner’s death?

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

Can you contest for any changes in a will made by your father
Source: Livemint.com

The following article was first published in the Mint newspaper on 3rd 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 father has in his will made long back stated that his property should be transferred in the name of my elder brother in the unfortunate event of his death. I am married now but as his only daughter, can I contest for changes to be made in the Will and thereby get a share in his property?

—Name withheld on request 

Continue Reading Can you contest for any changes in a will made by your father?

Intestate

The recent Supreme Court (“SC”) judgment in the case of Arunachala Gounder vs. Ponnuswamy[1] is a significant one since it focusses on whether a sole daughter could inherit her father’s self-acquired property dying intestate, prior to the enactment of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (“Act”). It also delves into the order of succession after the death of the said daughter.

In this blog, we analyse the judgment and its impact on the property rights of Hindu women and widows under the Act.

Continue Reading A daughter’s right: Inheritance and devolution of her father’s self-acquired property

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 request

Continue Reading Should you execute PoA to relinquish property rights?

HUF
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 20th February, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My dad had invested in mutual funds in which my mother was a nominee. I have lost my parents and wish to transmit them in my name. My query is – whether these mutual funds can be transferred to ​​​a Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) that I have created to reduce tax liability?

—Name withheld on request


Continue Reading What is the right of an heir in the mutual fund holdings of a parent?

Ancestral Property
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 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?

HUF
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 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?

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 request

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