Selling inherited or ancestral property: what to do first

Get the death certificate and a legal heir certificate, or the will, then have the land or property record changed to the heirs' names (the patta in Tamil Nadu, the khata in Karnataka, the mutation entry elsewhere). Every heir with a share signs the sale deed, or first gives up their share by a registered release deed. Then price it, list it and register the sale like any other property.

Not on their own. Each heir owns a share, and a buyer will want every heir with a share to sign the sale deed, or a registered release deed in which the other heirs give up their shares to the heir who sells. If the heirs cannot agree, a partition, by a registered partition deed or through the court, divides the property so each can sell their own part. Speak to a lawyer first.

Usually, yes. It names the heirs, and the revenue office uses it to change the land or property record into their names, which buyers and their banks check first. In Tamil Nadu it is issued by the Tahsildar, and you apply through e-Sevai. If the owner left a will, the will governs the property it covers.

Not by law any more. Parliament omitted section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 in December 2025, so probate is no longer compulsory, including for property in Chennai, Mumbai and Kolkata. A buyer or a bank may still ask for it before they accept the will.

A deed in which one heir gives up their share of an inherited property in favour of another heir, so that heir can sell the whole property. It must be registered at the Sub-Registrar office, and the stamp duty depends on your state and on whom the share is released to.

There is no tax when you inherit. When you sell, the gain is worked out from the cost the previous owner paid, and the time they held the property counts towards yours, so most inherited property gives a long-term gain, taxed at 12.5% under the Income-tax Act, 2025. Rural agricultural land is not a capital asset, so its sale is not taxed. More on gmore.app/blog/is-sale-of-agricultural-land-taxable-in-india.

Yes. An NRI or OCI cardholder can inherit any property in India, including farm land, and can sell it, signing on a visit or through a power of attorney. Farm land, a plantation or a farmhouse can be sold only to a person living in India. More on gmore.app/sell/nri.

Only with care. In a Hindu family, a parent needs the court's permission before selling any part of a minor child's own land or building, under section 8(2) of the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956. Buyers and their banks ask for that court order, so speak to a lawyer before you agree a sale.

From ₹8,999 including GST, for a property up to 5,000 sq ft. Your exact fee is set for your property, by its size and value, and shown to you before you pay. It covers the filming visit, the professional video and the first month of listing. After that the listing continues at ₹999 a month until you stop. There is no commission when your property sells.

No. You pay the flat listing fee and nothing when your property sells. In India, agents usually charge 1 to 2% of the sale price.

If your property is not sold within 18 months of going live, you get a full fee refund, minus GST. The full terms are on the Cancellation and Refunds page. To qualify, keep the listing live with each monthly fee paid within 7 days of its due date, keep your asking price within the range your Property Advisor recommends, reply to enquiries within 2 days and allow site visits. Read the refund terms.

You choose. Buyers can call or WhatsApp you directly, or Gmore takes every call and message and tells you only when an interested buyer books a site visit.