Gujarat: Talatis can issue legal heir certificates for flats

After almost eight years, the state revenue department has allowed talatis (village level revenue officials) to issue legal heir certificates (pedhinama) to families involved in the division of properties like apartments, bungalows or commercial real estate, apart from land.

A circular was issued by the revenue department along with guidelines earlier this week.

After the talati issues this certificate and the mamlatdar ratifies it, the local district court issues a succession certificate.

Since 2014, the revenue department has allowed talatis to issue legal heir certificates only in case of agricultural or non-agricultural land.

The official also added that on May 14, the state government, for the first time, issued guidelines to prepare legal heir certificates involving only agricultural and non-agricultural land or plots.

Revenue department section officer, VA Chauhan, has also clarified in the latest circular issued on September 20 that in case a property owner dies at any place in Gujarat other than his place of permanent residence, then his family members can apply for legal heir certificates before any talati - that is either at the owner's place of stay or the owner's native place or permanent address.

The third impediment that the revenue department has removed is the mandatory filing of an affidavit before the talati while applying for legal heir certificates.