What to Do After a Death in the Family in India: The Paperwork, Step by Step
Published by Karan Bindal, Founder
When someone in the family dies, nobody is at their best. Relatives are arriving, decisions are being made quickly, and the paperwork feels impossible. It helps to know that very little of it is urgent in the first few days, and that most of it can be done one step at a time.
This is a practical order to follow. Rules differ by state and institution, so treat it as a map, and ask each office what it needs from you.
If it has only just happened, start with the first 24 hours. This page covers the paperwork that follows.
In the first few days
1. Get the medical certificate of cause of death. If the death happened in a hospital, the hospital reports it to the Registrar and must give the family a copy of the certificate free of charge. If the death happened at home, a doctor who attended the person during their last illness issues it, and the family gives it to the Registrar.
2. Make sure the death is registered. The normal period is 21 days from the date of death, and it is free within that time. It is registered where the death happened, not where the family lives. Our guide on how to get a death certificate explains this, including what to do if you are late.
3. Ask for several copies of the death certificate. Every bank, insurer and office will want one. You get one free copy, and further copies for a small fee. A certificate with a QR code is especially useful, because some institutions now accept it directly.
4. Keep the person's mobile number active. Banks, the EPFO and investment platforms often send one-time codes to it. Do not close the SIM until the claims are finished. And do not use the person's login or codes to move money yourself, even with good intentions. Use the claim process.
5. Do not sign anything in a hurry. Fraudsters watch for families in this moment, and so do people offering to "handle everything" for a fee. Our guide on scams after a death lists the common ones.
In the first month
6. Make a list of what the person had. Before you visit any office, write down every bank, policy, investment, property and loan you know about, and where the papers are. Our list of documents needed after a death will help. This is the slowest part for most families, because usually one person knew all of it.
7. Tell the banks. Inform each bank in writing and keep the acknowledgement. Under RBI's rules, a claim can be lodged at any branch of the bank. See our guide to claiming a bank account after a death.
8. Tell the insurers. Intimate every life insurer as soon as you can. The time limits for the insurer run from this point. See how to claim life insurance.
9. Tell the employer, and start the PF claim. If the person was working, ask about salary dues, gratuity, group insurance and provident fund. See our guide to the EPF claim after a death.
10. Tell the pension office or bank, if the person drew a pension. Tell the pension-paying bank immediately. Money credited after the death has to be paid back. A spouse may be entitled to family pension, and the forms differ for central government, state government and EPS pensioners.
In the next few months
11. Claim investments. Mutual funds and shares pass through a process called transmission. See mutual funds and shares after a death.
12. Open the bank locker, if there is one. See the bank locker after a death.
13. Work out what paperwork the succession needs. Depending on the case, you may need a legal heir certificate or a succession certificate. See legal heir certificate vs succession certificate.
14. Transfer property and vehicles. Update the property records, and transfer any vehicle. For a vehicle, the application is Form 31 and should be made within three months. See property after a death.
15. Look for money you may not know about. See how to find unclaimed money.
16. Close the loose ends. Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, the SIM, subscriptions and the final income tax return. See Aadhaar, PAN and SIM after a death.
Three things that make all of this easier
Keep one folder. Put copies of everything in it, and note the date and the person you spoke to at each office.
Share the work. One person can take banks, another insurance, another property. Be open with one another about what comes in. Most family disputes begin with someone not knowing.
Ask for help early. A local CA or lawyer can save weeks, especially if there is property, a will, or any disagreement.
If you are reading this before anything has happened
Most of this difficulty comes from one thing: the family does not know what exists or where it is. That can be fixed in an evening. Start with our free family checklist, which shows what to write down. When you want one private place to keep it all, see how Aakhri Pal works.
Last checked: 30 October 2026. This is general guidance, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change and differ by state, so please confirm with the institution concerned or a qualified professional.