How many copies of the death certificate do we need in India?

Order 10 to 15 certified copies. Banks, insurers, the employer, the RTO, the municipal office and each investment platform typically retain one.

What happens to a bank account when the holder dies?

A joint account with survivorship continues in the survivor's name. A single account is released to the nominee on production of the death certificate and KYC. With no nominee, the bank will ask for a succession certificate or an indemnity, depending on the balance.

Who files the income tax return of a deceased person?

The legal heir, after registering as a legal representative on the income tax e-filing portal, files the return for the period up to the date of death.

What to do when a parent dies in India: the first 90 days

Ordered by deadline, not by importance. The first week is documents; the first month is money; the first quarter is transfers and tax.

Nobody reads this in advance, which is why it takes families months to work out the sequence. Print it, or keep it where a sibling can find it.

Week 1 — documents

Obtain the medical cause-of-death certificate from the hospital or attending doctor.
Register the death with the municipal authority within 21 days and collect the death certificate.
Order 10 to 15 certified copies. Almost every institution keeps one.
Locate the will, if any, and identify the executor.
Find the list of accounts, policies and lockers, or begin reconstructing it from bank statements and email.

Weeks 2-4 — money in

Intimate every life insurer. Do not wait to assemble all documents first.
Inform the employer for gratuity, group insurance, leave encashment and PF.
Apply for the legal heir certificate at the Tehsildar's office; pension and PF claims need it.
Notify banks. Joint accounts with survivorship continue; single accounts with a nominee are released to the nominee.
Freeze any credit cards and stop auto-debits that will now bounce.

Month 2 — transfers

Transmission of mutual fund units: transmission form, death certificate, KYC of the claimant, and a nomination or succession document.
Demat transmission through the DP, using Form T with the same supporting set.
Property mutation in municipal records, with the death certificate and the will or heirship proof.
Vehicle transfer at the RTO within the state's prescribed period.
Utilities, gas connection, society membership and rent agreements.

Month 3 — tax and closure

Register as a legal heir on the income tax portal to file the deceased's final return.
File the return for the year of death by the usual due date; income after death is taxed in the estate's hands.
Close or convert accounts you no longer need, keeping one active for pending credits.
Update your own will and nominations — a parent is often still named in them.

If there is no will and no nominations

For movable assets and securities, expect to apply to the district court for a succession certificate, which typically takes four to eight months because of the mandatory public notice period. Immovable property may need letters of administration. Start early; the two processes can run in parallel.

Do not distribute anything between siblings informally before the paperwork is complete. Informal distribution is the most common source of later litigation.

Saarthi is a readiness and organization platform. It does not provide legal, tax, investment, or financial advice. Any generated drafts, checklists, or recommendations should be reviewed with qualified professionals before use.