Claiming Indian Bank Accounts After Death — NRI Guide for UK Families

When an Indian national dies in the UK, their bank accounts in India — NRE, NRO, FCNR deposits, fixed deposits — are frozen the moment the bank learns of the death. Getting that money released depends on three things: whether the account had a registered nominee, how much money is in it, and what documents you can produce.

The 2025 RBI directions simplified this process significantly, but only if you know what they changed.

Accounts With a Nominee: The Fast Track

If the deceased registered a nominee on their Indian bank account, the process is straightforward. The bank is mandated by the RBI to release the outstanding balance to the nominee once they are satisfied of the nominee's identity and have received an official death certificate.

No succession certificate. No probate. No court filing.

The nominee presents:

• A certified copy of the death certificate (apostilled if issued abroad)
• Their own ID (Aadhaar, PAN, passport)
• The bank's bereavement claim form

The bank should process the claim promptly. In practice, "promptly" means 2–4 weeks for most banks.

One critical legal nuance: Under Indian law, the nominee is a trustee, not the absolute owner. Receiving the money from the bank does not give the nominee personal ownership — they are legally obligated to distribute the funds to the rightful heirs as determined by the will or intestate succession laws. This distinction matters if there are multiple heirs.

Joint Accounts With Survivorship

If the account was held jointly with an "Either or Survivor" or "Anyone or Survivor" mandate, the surviving joint holder can continue to operate the account after presenting a certified death certificate. The account should be closed within six months of the primary holder's death.

Do not make any debits from the account before formally notifying the bank of the death. Operating the account after the primary holder's death — even as the surviving holder — without notifying the bank is treated as unauthorised access under RBI regulations and can lead to the account being frozen and potential legal action from other heirs.

Accounts Without a Nominee: Bank-Specific Thresholds

This is where the 2025 RBI directions made the biggest difference. Previously, claiming an unnominated account required a succession certificate from an Indian court — a process that takes months and costs tens of thousands of rupees in legal fees.

For movable assets within the bank's applicable threshold, the bank can settle the deceased claim without requiring a succession certificate, provided the claimant produces:

• An apostilled death certificate
• A Legal Heir Certificate issued by a local Tehsildar or Revenue Authority in India
• A joint application by all legal heirs
• A letter of indemnity

Processing time is bank-specific, so obtain the bank's written requirements and timeline before filing.

Above the Applicable Bank Threshold: Succession Certificate Required

For movable-asset claims above the applicable bank-specific threshold, the claimant must obtain a formal Succession Certificate from an Indian District Court under Section 372 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925.

This process typically takes 5–8 months and involves:

• Filing a petition in the appropriate Indian District Court
• Publishing a citation in a local newspaper
• A court hearing where the judge verifies the petitioner's claim
• Issuance of the certificate, which identifies the legal heirs and their respective shares

For UK-based families, this usually requires appointing a lawyer in India and executing a new Power of Attorney — the deceased's old PoA is automatically void.

Documents Indian Banks Expect from UK Families

• Apostilled UK death certificate — the FCDO paper apostille, not a digital e-Apostille
• Legal Heir Certificate or succession certificate
• Claimant's ID — passport, Aadhaar (if available), PAN
• Proof of relationship — marriage certificate, birth certificate
• The bank's specific bereavement claim form — each bank has its own

Some banks (notably HSBC India) allow overseas claimants to complete identity verification at an HSBC India branch. Ask the bereavement team about this option.

The Indian Dies in the UK guide covers the complete banking claims process — including the EPFO, EDLI, and insurance claim workflows that run alongside the bank settlement.