How to Get a Succession Certificate Bangladesh

A succession certificate is a court order granted under the Succession Act 1925 authorising specified heirs to receive movable assets of a deceased person — bank deposits, shares, savings certificates, pension dues, insurance proceeds, and debts payable to the deceased. It is different from a probate (which deals with wills and immovable property).

You need a succession certificate when:

• A bank refuses to release the deceased's fixed deposits, savings, or current account balance without court authorisation
• Collecting dividend or shares from a company where the deceased was a shareholder
• Claiming life insurance proceeds from an insurer
• Recovering outstanding salary, pension, or government dues
• Recovering debts owed to the deceased by third parties

If the deceased left a registered will, probate proceedings may be needed instead. A civil lawyer in Dhaka can advise which route applies.

1. File a petition in the District Judge Court or Civil Judge Court in the district where the deceased last ordinarily resided.
2. The petition states: deceased's details, relationship of applicant to deceased, list of all heirs, list of assets to be collected (with amounts), and prayer for certificate.
3. Court issues notice to all other legal heirs — they must be given an opportunity to object.
4. If no objections: court may grant the certificate without full trial.
5. If objections filed: full hearing and evidence presented.
6. Upon grant, the certificate specifies the heirs and their entitlement.
7. Present the certificate to the bank/institution to claim the assets.

• Death certificate of the deceased (from hospital or Union Parishad)
• NID of the applicant and all legal heirs
• Proof of relationship (birth certificates, family certificate, kabinnama)
• Bank statement or passbook showing the account balance
• Share certificates or savings certificate copies (if applicable)
• Two witnesses for the petition

Court fees are based on the value of assets claimed — typically 2–3% of the asset value (capped in some courts). An uncontested certificate can be obtained in 2–4 months. A contested case with objections from other heirs may take 1–2 years. Contact Advocate Md. Shah Alam — a civil lawyer in Uttara — for fast, professional handling of your succession certificate case.

Yes. A joint application by all known heirs is faster and less contentious than a single-heir application, which may face objections from other heirs.

No. For inheritance of land or immovable property, a mutation (namjari) application to the AC (Land) office is typically needed, not a succession certificate. Succession certificates cover movable assets and debts.

You can still apply individually as one of the heirs. The court will notify all other heirs — non-cooperation by one does not prevent the certificate from being issued.

A succession certificate covers movable property (money, debts, shares). Probate is granted by the High Court Division to authenticate a will and authorise the executor to deal with the deceased's estate — typically more relevant to large estates or immovable property.