When a family member dies leaving money in a bank, shares or a provident fund, the bank will not release those funds to the heirs on trust alone. It demands a succession certificate - the legal document that names the heirs and their shares. For decades this meant years of civil litigation. Since 2021, NADRA has offered a faster administrative route, and the 2025 amendments gave heirs a genuine choice between the two. This guide compares them clearly so you can decide which fits your situation.
Two routes to the same goal
First, a key distinction. A succession certificate covers movable assets - bank accounts, savings certificates, shares, bonds, insurance and provident fund. For immovable property such as a house, plot or agricultural land, heirs need a Letter of Administration instead. The two are often applied for together. Read our companion guide on the Letter of Administration in Pakistan if the estate includes land.
Both certificates can now be secured two ways: through NADRA for undisputed estates, or through the civil court where heirs disagree or NADRA declines. The governing framework is the Succession Act 1925 read with the provincial Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Acts 2021 (Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and the Islamabad Capital Territory each have their own version).
The NADRA route
NADRA operates dedicated Succession Facilitation Units (SFUs) - as of 2025 there are around 186 across the country, and heirs can apply at any of them regardless of where the property sits. The process is designed to be citizen-friendly and runs in roughly five stages:
- Application and biometrics - all legal heirs (or their attorneys) attend the SFU, submit documents and give biometric verification.
- Verification - NADRA cross-checks the death record, the Family Registration Certificate and the heirs against its database.
- Public notice - a notice is published inviting objections, with a fixed 14-day window.
- Review - if no valid objection is raised, the file proceeds; if a genuine dispute surfaces, NADRA declines and the matter goes to court.
- Issuance - the certificate is issued, typically within about 15-20 working days overall for a clean case.
Important: NADRA only handles undisputed estates. The moment a real dispute among heirs appears, or a third party objects with substance, NADRA steps back and the civil court takes over.
The court route
The traditional route runs through the court of the District Judge for the area where the deceased ordinarily resided at the time of death. The heirs file a petition under the Succession Act 1925, listing the assets and all legal heirs. The court issues a public notice, examines any objections, and usually requires the petitioner to furnish a surety or security bond before granting the certificate.
Where an estate is genuinely contested - a disputed will, an heir left out, or a challenge to who qualifies - the court is the correct and only forum. In such cases heirs often also file a suit for declaration to resolve the inheritance dispute. An uncontested court petition can conclude in two to three months, but a contested one can run far longer.
NADRA vs court compared
The core differences at a glance:
| Factor | NADRA route | Court route |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Undisputed estates, cooperating heirs | Disputed estates, missing or objecting heirs |
| Forum | Succession Facilitation Unit (SFU) | Court of the District Judge |
| Typical timeline | ~15-20 working days | ~2-3 months (longer if contested) |
| Objection window | Fixed 14 days (newspaper notice) | Court-set notice period |
| Fee basis | Fixed slab (see below) | Ad valorem plus lawyer costs |
| Lawyer required | Usually not mandatory | Practically yes |
| Handles disputes | No - declines and refers | Yes - judge decides |
| Legal authority | Equal since 2025 amendments | Equal since 2025 amendments |
Documents you will need
The core paperwork is broadly the same for both routes:
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Death certificate of the deceased | Proves the death (from the union council / NADRA) |
| CNIC of the deceased | Confirms identity of the estate holder |
| CNIC of every applicant heir | Confirms each heir's identity |
| Family Registration Certificate (FRC) | Establishes the relationship of heirs to the deceased |
| Heirship certificate (if asked) | Confirms all heirs where there are several (union council) |
| Details of the assets | Bank account numbers, share/bond details, balances |
Getting the shares right matters as much as the paperwork. Distribution follows Islamic law under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act 1962. Use our inheritance calculator to work out each heir's Faraid share, or read the full Islamic inheritance law guide.
Fees and timeline
NADRA charges a fixed, transparent fee; courts charge a percentage of the estate value. Note that the NADRA fee has been subject to legal challenge in some provinces, so confirm the current figure at your SFU before applying.
| Item | NADRA | Court |
|---|---|---|
| Estate value below PKR 100,000 | ~PKR 10,000 (fixed) | Ad valorem: about 2.5% of the estate value under section 374, Succession Act 1925 (higher for extensions under section 376) |
| Estate value above PKR 100,000 | ~PKR 20,000 (fixed) | |
| Duplicate certificate | ~PKR 5,000 | Court-set copy fee |
| Typical completion | 15-20 working days | 2-3 months (uncontested) |
Court totals also include lawyer's professional fees and, where required, the cost of the surety bond - so a court petition usually costs more overall even though the base court fee can be modest for small estates. Exact figures vary by province and district; treat these as typical ranges and verify locally.
Which route should you choose?
The 2025 amendments removed the old "bar of jurisdiction" - previously you had to try NADRA first and obtain a decline certificate before a court would hear you. Now both forums have concurrent, equal authority and you may approach either directly. A simple decision guide:
- Choose NADRA when all heirs agree, the estate is straightforward, and you want speed and a fixed fee.
- Choose the court when heirs disagree, an heir is minor or missing, there is a contested will, or a third party is likely to object.
- Start at NADRA and expect a referral if you are unsure - NADRA will decline and point you to court if a real dispute emerges, at which point the distribution of the deceased's estate is settled by a judge.
Overseas heirs have extra steps - attested documents and a power of attorney executed through a Pakistani consulate. See our note on overseas Pakistani inheritance for that.
Frequently asked questions
What does a succession certificate actually cover?
Only movable assets - bank balances, shares, bonds, savings certificates, insurance and provident fund. For land or a house you need a Letter of Administration.
Is the NADRA certificate as valid as a court one?
Yes. Under the 2021 provincial Acts and the 2025 amendments both carry equal legal authority, and banks must honour a NADRA certificate.
How long does the NADRA route take?
About 15-20 working days for an undisputed estate, after the fixed 14-day public objection period.
Do I still need a decline certificate to go to court?
No. The 2025 amendments removed that requirement - you can approach the civil court directly.
What if the heirs disagree?
NADRA will decline and the matter must go to the civil court, often alongside a suit for declaration. Speak to a lawyer early.