Legal heir

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Civil Procedure

INTRODUCTION:

It is trite law that a personal action or claim extinguishes with the death of a person. This principle has been appropriately captured in the common law maxim – “action personalismoritur cum persona”, which is the Latin equivalent for “a personal right of action dies with the person”. The maxim, however, has limited application on cases, such as (i) a defamatory action, (ii) criminal proceedings in lieu of personal injury not amounting to murder, (iii) where the grant of any relief in a suit would be nugatory owing to the death of a party, etc. However, where a judgement debtor dies before fully satisfying a money payment decree, the decree holder can apply to the court that had passed the decree to get the decree executed against the legal representatives and/ or legal heirs of the deceased judgement debtor. Here, the above mentioned common law maxim has no application. In this paper, we will discuss the extent of liability of a legal heir in such a situation where the judgement debtor has expired before the execution of a money decree.Continue Reading Liability of Legal Heirs Vis-À-Vis Code of Civil Procedure

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

Property Law
Source: Livemint.com

The following article was first published in the Mint newspaper on 14th June, 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.

I am an Indian, but my brother settled down in Bangladesh 30 years ago and is now a citizen there. He wants to gift me the property that he inherited here after the demise of our father. What is the process for this transaction?

— Name withheld on requestContinue Reading Can my brother living in Bangladesh gift me land inherited here?

How is the gifting of money or property to a relative taxed
Source: Livemint.com

The following article was first published in the Mint newspaper on 7th June, 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.

I want to gift money to my elder brother. What will be the tax implications. Can I also gift immovable property to my brother?

— Name withheld on requestContinue Reading How is the gifting of money or property to a relative taxed?

reverse mortgaged 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 12th March, 2022 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

One of my relatives has reverse mortgaged his house, he died recently. It is understood that there is a specific will insisted by the banker and got executed at the time of reverse mortgage, wherein it says, “the property will devolve on my wife with absolute rights” and so on. Are the legal heirs eligible to claim for the rights of the said property?

– ArunContinue Reading Can legal heirs have claim in the reverse mortgaged 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 requestContinue Reading Should you execute PoA to relinquish property rights?

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

A nominee is obligated to hand over the assets to the Legal Heir
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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 28th April, 2021 and the online edition of the same can be found here.

My father passed away at the age of 79 in February. In his will, he has mentioned 50:50 share to both the sons. My mother passed away seven years ago. These are the queries…

Continue Reading A nominee is obligated to hand over the assets to the legal heir

In some Indian states, stamp duty is not payable on a document through which a property has been transferred in favour of a blood relative. (Photo: iStock) – Source: Livemint

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 3rd March, 2020 and the online edition of the same can be found at: https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/gifts-deeds-are-not-reversible-so-the-giver-can-t-get-back-the-rights-11583220828729.html

My mother and I co-own a residential property in Mumbai. She has decided to transfer her share of the property to my name. Should we prepare a gift deed or a relinquishment or release deed to execute this transfer? The property has been mortgaged to a bank, but I have obtained a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the transfer. Will I also have to ask the housing society in which the property is located to transfer the share certificate to my name? Can I include a clause in the deed to ensure that if I am survived by my mother, the rights will be transferred back to her upon my death?

—ChiragContinue Reading Gifts deeds are not reversible, so the giver can’t get back the rights

Legal Heirs Preferred Over Nominees - Court Decision

The issue of legatees vs. nominees still seems to be causing confusion in the minds of the public. Even after a number of clear judicial decisions on this topic, confirming that legal heirs are the correct persons to inherit assets (over that of a nominee), a new decision re-confirms this issue.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, New Delhi (“NCLAT”), on November 14th, 2019 had held that nomination does not amount to beneficial ownership to an asset and the nominee holds the asset for and on behalf of the legal heirs of the deceased. The Bench of Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyaya and Justice A.I.S. Cheema, in the case of Oswal Greentech v Mr Pankaj Oswal and Ors[1] (“Oswal”) whilst listening to the question of maintainability of the petition under Section 241-242 of the Companies Act, 2013 (“Act”), decided on the said matter.
Continue Reading Court Re-Confirms That Legal Heirs Are Preferred Over Nominees