What is a Succession Certificate and Letter of Administration:
In January 2021, NADRA introduced a streamlined five-step process enabling applicants to obtain Letters of Administration or Succession Certificates without resorting to court proceedings. This initiative has reduced the judiciary’s workload by 30%. The project is currently operational at district-level sites in ICT, Punjab, Sindh, and KP.
Succession Certificate: This certificate identifies the legal heirs of the deceased for the distribution of movable assets, including insurance claims, bank account funds, stocks, prize bonds, and stock exchange shares.
Letter of Administration: This certificate will establish the legal heirs of the deceased for the distribution of their immovable assets, such as land, houses, etc.
Step 1: Application initiation and deceased details:
The applicant must submit the fees, their credentials, and the deceased’s information to obtain the succession certificate/letter of administration. The deceased’s card should be marked as “CD” in the national database. The following information is required at this stage:
- Applicant’s CNIC
- Biometric and photograph of the Applicant
- Deceased CNIC number
- Deceased Parents name (If not found in the National database)
- Religion and Sect of Deceased
Step 2: Legal heirs and Assets Details
The applicant must submit an affidavit authorizing the legal heirs and detailing the assets, including each heir’s share according to the law (following the attached format). This information will be recorded in the system, and the relationship with the deceased must be confirmed and verified. If the legal heirs are physically present, their biometrics will be taken; if not, this can be done at a subsequent stage (verification/consent by Legal Heirs).
- Name and ID number of Legal Heirs
- Gender of Legal Heirs
- Relation with applicant
- Relation with deceased
- Religion (can be different amongst legal heirs)
- Sect (can be different amongst legal heirs)
- Mobile number and provider name
- Email ID (if available)
- Asset type
- Asset description
- Share of legal heirs of total asset
Step 3: Biometric Verification
Biometric Verification for each Legal Heir will be conducted (unless previously completed at step 2). Should Biometric verification fail due to database unavailability or other reasons, legal heirs will be required to update their biometrics following the established procedure. In instances involving senior citizens, bandaged individuals, amputees, or those with problematic fingerprints, verification will proceed through VERISYS.
Step 4: Document Scanning
The following documents will be scanned and saved in the system:
- Affidavits
- Copy of ID document of legal heirs
- Moveable assets details for which the certificate is applied for
- Any other document deemed appropriate by the Authority
Step 5: Advertisement in Newspaper
Advertisements targeting the general public will be published in two nationwide newspapers, one in English and the other in Urdu, following the attached format. These advertisements will also be featured on the NADRA website.
Step 6: Objection logging
After the advertisement is published, should any legal heirs of the deceased raise objections, these must be submitted in writing by the complainant and recorded in the system. Following such objections, all proceedings regarding the Succession Certificate or Letter of Administration will be halted, and a denial certificate (generated by the system) will be issued to the applicant. The applicant will then be advised to seek a Succession Certificate or Letter of Administration from a court of law. The application fee will be refunded to the applicant, minus the applicable processing fees.
Step 7: Case Approval
Should no objection be raised by any legal heir of the deceased within fourteen days following the advertisement’s publication in the newspaper, the case will be processed for approval.
Step 8: Printing and Delivery
After the officer in charge has approved the case, the applicant will have read and signed off on the certificate’s contents. The delivery of the certificate will then be logged into the system.
To apply and further information please visit:
Source / reference: ICT Letter of administration & Succession certificate