Both the certificates serve a completely different purpose from each other. Since a person requires a succession certificate and not a legal heir certificate. Moreover, only legal heirs can apply for succession certificates but in case of legal heir certificate, the son/ daughter/ husband/ wife/ parents of the deceased can also apply.
Legal heir certificate is provided by the revenue officer of the district to identify the legal heirs of a deceased person. However, a succession certificate is provided by a civil court to the legal heirs of the dead person. If a person dies without leaving a Will, a succession certificate can be provided by the court to realize the debts and securities of the dead person.
Legal Heir certificates are issued by Tehsildar of the district to identify the deceased person’s living heirs, however, the succession certificates are issued by the court to the legal heirs of the deceased person.
Apart from all this, a succession certificate is used for transfer of property or for paying debts or securities on behalf of the deceased or for collecting the same. However, the legal heir certificate is used for gratuity, pension, insurance, provident fund, retirement claims etc.
In case of a succession certificate, a notice in the newspaper is issued for 45 days by the court. If any person has a problem with it can file for objections in the court. If the court does not receive any objection, the succession certificate will be issued. This procedure can take 5-7 months. However, it only takes 15-30 days to issue a legal heir certificate.
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