How to Obtain a Succession Certificate in Bangladesh 2026: Bank Account & Share Transfer Guide

A common point of confusion among heirs in Bangladesh is the distinction between a local Warishan Certificate and a judicial Succession Certificate:

• Warishan Certificate (ওয়ারিশান সনদ): Issued by a Ward Councillor, Union Parishad Chairman, or City Corporation Mayor. It merely lists the surviving legal heirs of the deceased. Banks will generally not release funds over BDT 20,000 to 50,000 based solely on a Warishan Certificate.
• Succession Certificate (আদালতের উত্তরাধিকার সনদ): Issued exclusively by a formal Civil Court under the Succession Act 1925 after judicial inquiry. It legally empowers specific heirs to collect debts, liquidate bank accounts, and transfer shares.

Financial institutions in Bangladesh require a court Succession Certificate in the following circumstances:

• Claiming money from bank savings accounts, current accounts, or FDRs of a deceased account holder.
• Encashing National Savings Certificates (পরিবার সঞ্চয়পত্র, তিন মাস অন্তর মুনাফাভিত্তিক সঞ্চয়পত্র).
• Transferring company shares, BO Accounts, or mutual funds held by the deceased.
• Collecting insurance payouts, provident funds, or gratuity balances where nominee designation is contested.
• Receiving government treasury refund orders or unpaid pension arrears.

The judicial procedure for obtaining a Succession Certificate involves these structured steps:

1. Drafting the Application: Advocate drafts a petition under Section 372 of the Succession Act 1925, detailing deceased's date of death, list of surviving heirs, and exact bank schedule with account numbers and balances.
2. Filing in Assistant Judge Court: Submit the petition before the Senior Assistant Judge Court having jurisdiction over the deceased's permanent or last residence.
3. Verification & Newspaper Citation: The court orders publication of a public notice in a widely circulated national newspaper inviting objections within 15 to 30 days.
4. Witness Testimony (Evidence): If no objection is received, the applicant and a local witness present oral evidence (Deposition) confirming relationship and death.
5. Court Fee Deposit: Upon court order, deposit required court fee stamps based on asset valuation.
6. Issuance of Certificate: The court issues the sealed and signed Succession Certificate (Form Part I & II).

Prepare the following documents before consulting your advocate:

• Original Death Certificate issued by City Corporation / Union Parishad.
• Attested Warishan Certificate from Ward Councillor / Chairman.
• National ID Cards (NID) / Passports of all legal heirs.
• Bank Account Statement / FDR Certificate / Sanchayapatra copies showing exact balance and account number.
• No-Objection Certificates (NOC / Holofnama) from co-heirs if one heir is authorized to collect on behalf of all.
• Passport size photos of all applicants.

Under the Court Fees Act 1870 (Schedule I, Article 12), statutory court fees apply based on the total value of bank funds/securities:

• Up to BDT 20,000: Exempt from court fee.
• BDT 20,001 to BDT 1,00,000: 1% court fee.
• Above BDT 1,00,000: 2% ad valorem court fee on the total balance.

Court fee stamps must be affixed to the petition before final signing by the judge.

The newspaper notice protects banks from future fraudulent claims. If a hidden heir or creditor files an objection (অপাংক্তেয় দাবি), the case becomes a contested suit, requiring trial hearings.

Having a skilled lawyer ensures all heirs sign proper affidavits to avoid unnecessary delays.

Once the court issues the Succession Certificate:

• Submit a certified copy along with an indemnity bond to the bank manager or DP (Depository Participant) broker.
• The bank verifies court authenticity and transfers funds directly to the bank account of the designated heir(s).

Errors in bank schedule details or heir lists cause petition rejections, forcing families to start over.

Advocate Md. Shah Alam — Supreme Court Advocate practicing at Dhaka District Courts — provides fast-track Succession Certificate filings, ensuring families smoothly recover inherited bank funds and securities.

⚖️ Need to Claim Deceased Relative's Bank Money? Contact Supreme Court Advocate Advocate Md. Shah Alam for fast succession certificate filing in Dhaka courts. Visit our Legal Services Page or Contact Us Directly.

Under recent High Court rulings, a nominee acts merely as a trustee/custodian. For amounts exceeding minor thresholds, banks require a Succession Certificate to distribute funds to all legal heirs.

If uncontested, the entire process takes approximately 45 to 60 days, primarily due to the 30-day statutory newspaper notice period.

Yes. NRBs can empower a co-heir residing in Bangladesh via embassy-attested Special Power of Attorney to apply and collect funds on their behalf.

No. Real estate inheritance is transferred via E-Namjari (Mutation) using the Warishan Certificate and Khatian records. Succession Certificates apply specifically to movable assets and securities.