Short answer: A legal heir certificate, known in Tamil as the varisu (heir) certificate, names the family members of a person who has died and their relationship to that person. In Tamil Nadu it is issued by the Tahsildar under the Revenue Department. You apply online on the e-Sevai portal (tnesevai.tn.gov.in) or at an e-Sevai centre, using the service "REV-114 Legal Heir Certificate". The official service list shows no department fee and a service charge of ₹60.
This guide is for families handling the land, bank accounts or other affairs of a relative who has died in Tamil Nadu. It was checked against the official Tamil Nadu e-Sevai, e-District, Revenue Administration and Tamil Nilam land records websites in October 2026.
What a legal heir certificate is
The certificate lists each heir with their name, age, relationship to the deceased, marital status and whether they are alive. It is digitally signed, so it needs no seal or ink signature. You can check that a certificate is genuine on the Tamil Nadu e-District "Verify Certificate" page by entering the certificate number and a mobile number. The sample certificate in the official user manual states that it is based on the documents and information given by the applicant.
What it is used for
- Changing the patta (land ownership record) into the heirs' names. The Tamil Nilam online patta transfer instructions list the legal heir certificate, and the death certificate where needed, for inherited property.
- Electricity connection, house tax, telephone connection, bank account and job appointment matters. The sample certificate in the official user manual lists these uses, along with patta transfer.
- Government benefits. The e-Sevai service list asks for it in applications such as the destitute widow certificate and some family pension claims.
How to apply online
- Open tnesevai.tn.gov.in and use Citizen Login, or visit an e-Sevai centre.
- Register a Citizen Access Number (CAN) if you do not have one. It is verified with an OTP, and one CAN works for all e-Sevai services for life.
- Go to Services, choose Department wise, then Revenue Department, and select REV-114 Legal Heir Certificate.
- Select your CAN record and choose the category of applicant. Enter the details of the deceased, the address where they ordinarily lived at the time of death, and every legal heir.
- Upload the documents, make the payment and keep the acknowledgement receipt with the application number.
- Track the application with Check Status. If an application is returned to you, it appears under the Returned application tab.
- Once the application is approved and digitally signed, download the certificate.
Documents required
The official e-Sevai service list names the documents below. Upload the ones that fit your family situation.
- Death certificate of the deceased
- Proof of the address where the deceased ordinarily lived before death
- Proof of relationship for all eligible heirs, such as a birth certificate, school transfer certificate (TC), Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, community certificate, National Population Register (NPR) data or employee service record
- Birth certificates or TCs of all the children
- Proof of marriage, such as a marriage registration certificate, passport, voter ID, Aadhaar or NPR data
- Self-declaration of the applicant, and a self-declaration of the spouse naming all other legal heirs (including the mother-in-law)
- Where they apply: death certificates of both parents, a self-declaration of the parents, a divorce copy, the death certificate of a first wife, evidence of a second marriage, proof of legal adoption, or a guardianship order from a civil court
What happens after you apply
The application goes to the Revenue Department, and the Tahsildar of the taluk issues the certificate once it is approved. The e-Sevai portal does not publish the steps of the enquiry or a fixed time limit for this service. Use the status page, and contact the taluk office if the application is delayed. Name every heir correctly. The certificate is based on the details and documents you give, and it states that the issuing officer is not responsible for false information given by the applicant.
Legal heir certificate vs succession certificate
| Point | Legal heir certificate | Succession certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Tahsildar (Revenue Department) | District Judge (a court) |
| How you apply | Online through e-Sevai | Application to the court under Part X of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 |
| What it covers | Names the heirs and their relationship to the deceased | The debts and securities specified in the certificate |
Under the Act, "securities" include promissory notes and other securities of the Central or a State Government, shares, stock and debentures of companies, and debentures of local authorities. The certificate can empower the holder to receive interest or dividends and to transfer the securities. The application must state the time of death, the residence of the deceased, the family and near relatives, the right claimed, and the debts and securities involved. A succession certificate is not granted for a debt or security where the Act requires probate or letters of administration. Ask the bank or company which document it needs before you apply.
After the certificate: patta transfer and selling
With the certificate, the heirs can apply to change the patta into their names, attaching the legal heir certificate and the death certificate where needed. Our guide on patta transfer in Tamil Nadu covers the steps. If the family plans to sell, read selling inherited land in Tamil Nadu first.
