Withdraw Money From a Deceased Account With No Nominee

Published by Karan Bindal, Founder

With no nominee and no survivor clause, the legal heirs claim the money through the bank's claim process, and nobody should withdraw it using the person's card, UPI or login. Under RBI's rules, if there is no will and no dispute, a claim up to ₹15 lakh at a commercial bank (₹5 lakh at a co-operative bank) needs no succession certificate.

These rules are in RBI's Directions on claims of deceased customers, dated 26 September 2025. Banks had to adopt them by 31 March 2026 at the latest. For the case where a nominee exists, see our main bank claim guide.

Check first: is there really no nominee?

The passbook or statement should show "Nomination Registered" and the nominee's name. Ask the branch in writing if you cannot tell. In a joint account with a survivor clause, the survivor deals with the bank, and this guide does not apply.

Do not use the card or the login

It can feel harmless, especially for a small amount or a household bill. Please use the claim process instead, even if you are the rightful heir. Once the bank knows of the death, it will freeze the account in any case.

Where to start

You can lodge the claim at any branch of that bank, and you should receive an acknowledgement. The bank must list what is missing when it acknowledges your claim, and confirm when it has everything. Claim forms and the document list must be available at branches and on the bank's website.

Keep the acknowledgement safely, because the time limit runs from the date the bank has all the documents.

Up to the limit: what the bank asks for

The limit is ₹15 lakh for commercial banks and ₹5 lakh for co-operative banks, and a bank may set a higher one. It looks at the total payable, including interest, on the date of the application.

This route applies if there is no will, no competing claim, and no court order. You need:

Claim form, Annex I-B of the Directions, signed by the claimants
Death certificate
Each claimant's officially valid identity and address document
Indemnity bond, Annex I-C, signed by the claimants
Letter of disclaimer or no objection, Annex I-D, from any heir who is not claiming
Either a legal heir certificate from a competent authority, or a declaration in Annex I-E

The bank cannot ask for a third-party surety in this case.

The Annex I-E declaration, if you have no heir certificate

This matters because a legal heir certificate is not equally easy to get everywhere. Karnataka's district pages, for example, say the certificate is now issued only to the kin of deceased government servants, while others go to a civil court. That page is undated, so check locally.

The declaration comes from an independent person who knows the family well, is not part of the claim, and is acceptable to the bank. Ask the branch early whom it will accept, such as a respected neighbour or family friend. Our guide to these certificates explains the differences.

Above the limit

You have two routes:

A succession certificate from a court, with the claim form, death certificate and identity documents, or
A legal heir certificate, or an Annex I-E affidavit sworn before a Notary, Judge or Judicial Magistrate, along with documents 1 to 5 above. On this route, the bank may also ask for a surety bond from people it accepts, and non-claiming heirs can be among them.

RBI's wording is a little awkward here: the opening line of the paragraph speaks of amounts below the limit, but its clause (b) sets out this route for amounts above it. Ask your bank for its written document list, and go by that.

Getting a succession certificate usually takes several months, and longer if someone contests it. There is no official time figure.

If there is a will or a dispute

A will that nobody disputes. The bank will ask for probate or a letter of administration. It may instead choose to act on the will without probate, if the will is consistent with the law and appears genuine, and it then also takes the indemnity bond and any disclaimers.

A dispute among heirs. The bank will ask for probate, a letter of administration, a succession certificate or a court order. If a court has restrained payment, the claim waits. In both of these cases, the bank cannot insist on a third-party surety.

When there are several heirs

Who counts as an heir depends on the law that applies to the family. Our guide to dividing a father's property has an outline.

Getting the money from the bank does not settle who keeps it. Annex I-D is an important paper, so read it before signing, and do not sign under family pressure. If you are unsure what you are giving up, or if an heir is a minor or lives abroad, please speak to a lawyer first.

How long it should take

The bank must settle a deposit claim within 15 calendar days of receiving all the documents. If it is late, it must tell you why. If the delay is the bank's fault, it must pay interest of at least Bank Rate plus 4% a year on the amount, for the period of delay.

Fixed deposits can be closed early after a death with no penalty, even during a lock-in.

What these rules do not cover

PPF, the Senior Citizens' Savings Scheme and other government savings schemes have their own rules, so the 15-day limit and the ₹15 lakh threshold do not apply to them.

If the branch asks for more than this

Ask for the request in writing and point politely to RBI's Directions. Write to the bank's grievance team next. RBI also runs a Complaints Management System online and a contact centre on 14448 for information on how to complain. We have not confirmed that scheme's current time limits, so check them on RBI's site.

Spare your family this work

Adding a nominee takes a few minutes and spares a family all of the above. Our free family checklist shows what to note down, and Aakhri Pal keeps your accounts and nominees in one private place for your family.

See also: how to find unclaimed money.

Last checked: 31 October 2026. RBI consolidated many of its directions in late 2025, and we could not confirm whether paragraph numbers have changed, so check your bank's current policy. This is general guidance, not legal advice.

Sources: RBI Directions on deceased customers' claims, 26 September 2025 · RBI nomination Directions, 28 October 2025 · RBI consumer protection overview · Bengaluru Urban district, legal heir certificate