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Document Guide · Andaman & Nicobar

How to Check a Legal Heir Certificate in Andaman & Nicobar — Complete Guide 2026

Andaman calls it the Family Member Certificate, not Legal Heir Certificate. The Tehsildar issues it free of charge. Every heir named on it must sign before any inherited land gets sold. One refusal kills the deal. This guide covers application, documents, and what happens when heirs disagree.

Quick Reference
Also calledFamily Member Certificate / Surviving Members Certificate
Issued byConcerned Tehsildar
Valid forNo expiry
CostNo fee
Time takenConfirm with concerned Tehsildar office.
Online portale-forms via CSC / e-corner (andaman.gov.in) Andaman and
noteOne dissenting heir legally blocks the entire sale, not just their share
1

What is a Legal Heir Certificate in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

Definition

Here it is called the Family Member Certificate. Issued by the Tehsildar, it lists every surviving heir of a deceased person and confirms their relationship to the deceased.

Buying inherited land without this? You do not know who you are actually buying from. The Form-F will still show the dead person's name. Mutation cannot be triggered. The DC Permission application cannot proceed. Nothing in the sale chain moves.

Here is what most mainland buyers miss: all heirs must agree. Not majority, not three out of four. All of them. If one sibling says no, that share stays with them. The deal does not partly succeed — it fails entirely until that person either agrees or their share is legally separated through a court process.

State-specific note: Every heir on the Family Member Certificate must give written consent before inherited land in Andaman can be sold. One person's refusal blocks the whole transaction, not only their portion.
2

How to Get a Legal Heir Certificate in Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Step-by-Step

Apply online via e-forms at any CSC or e-corner, or go to the Tehsildar office directly. You need the death certificate, ID proof for every family member, ration card, and an affidavit from the applicant.

Online method (recommended)

1
Visit andaman
gov.in or a CSC Go to the portal or the nearest Common Service Centre. Pick Family Member Certificate from the online services. Register first if you have not.
2
List Every Heir Without Exception Fill in the deceased's details, then name every surviving family member
Skipping even one creates a problem that shows up later when you least want it.
3
Attach All Four Documents ID proof of every family member, ration card, applicant affidavit, death certificate
All four are mandatory. One missing and the application bounces.
4
Collect on the Acknowledgement Slip After Tehsildar verification, come back with the slip to collect
Collect on the Acknowledgement Slip After Tehsildar verification, come back with the slip to collect
Ask for multiple certified copies on the spot. Mutation needs one, the DC Permission file needs one, the bank wants one.

Offline method (Sub-Registrar Office)

1
Right Office for the Right District South Andaman: Port Blair, Ferrargunj, or Little Andaman
North and Middle Andaman: Mayabunder, Diglipur, or Rangat. Nicobar: Car Nicobar, Nancowry, or Great Nicobar.
2
Fill the Form, Name Everyone List every surviving family member on the application
No one gets left off.
3
Hand in the Documents ID proof of all members, ration card, affidavit, original death certificate at the counter
Hand in the Documents ID proof of all members, ration card, affidavit, original death certificate at the counter
4
Wait for Verification and Collect The certificate has no expiry once the Tehsildar signs it
Wait for Verification and Collect The certificate has no expiry once the Tehsildar signs it
If a will exists, bring it along. For deaths without a will, you will also need a survivorship affidavit for the subsequent mutation application.
3

What Does the Legal Heir Certificate Contain in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?

Five things in the Family Member Certificate define who has a legal stake in the land.

Field Description What to Verify
Deceased's Name and Death DateWho the original owner wasMust match Form-F exactly; any mismatch causes a mutation delay
Heir Names and RelationshipsEvery surviving heirAny missing name is a future dispute waiting to happen
Heir Ages and AddressesAge and address of each heirMinors need guardian process; cannot sign directly
Issuing AuthorityTehsildar stamp and dateNo signature or stamp means the document has no legal standing
Survivorship StatementConfirms these are all known living heirsAn heir who appears later can challenge the entire transaction
Good sign: Every heir named, correct relationships recorded, Tehsildar seal and signature in place, and the certificate date falls after the death certificate date.
4

Common Issues With the Legal Heir Certificate in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Two things kill inherited land deals here most often.

One Heir Says No The sale stops
Full stop. That share stays with the dissenting person and cannot be forced through. A buyer who paid an advance is now in a dispute.
Fix: Written consent from every heir before any payment is non-negotiable.
Someone Was Left Off Missed heirs surface after the sale
Title gets contested. The buyer is now in court rather than on the land.
Fix: Check the certificate against mutation records and whatever other documents exist. A name appearing elsewhere but absent from the certificate is a hard stop.
Child Named as Heir A minor cannot sign a property agreement
Full guardian process through court is needed for their share. This takes time.
Fix: Spot minor heirs early. Get legal advice before negotiating price or paying anything.
Certificate Is Old Families change
A certificate from ten years ago may not reflect adoptions, deaths of heirs, or new claimants.
Fix: Ask the Tehsildar for confirmation or get a fresh certificate if significant time has passed since issue.
Mutation Never Done Certificate is in hand but Form-F still shows the deceased
DC Permission will not go through until mutation is complete.
Fix: Mutation first, then DC Permission, then sale. Use the certificate and death certificate together at the Tehsildar mutation counter.
Will Overrides the Certificate A probated will can allocate shares differently from the standard heir list
The Family Member Certificate does not reflect what the will says.
Fix: Where a will exists, it controls distribution. Get legal advice before relying only on the certificate.
5

Why the Legal Heir Certificate Matters for Land Buyers in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Skip this document on inherited land and the deal will unravel, sooner or later.

📋
Shows Who Really Owns the Land You might be negotiating with three siblings while a fourth holds a legal share and has no idea a sale is happening
The Family Member Certificate is the only way to know who is in the picture.
⚠
All Heirs Must Consent This is unique to inherited property
It is not majority rule. One heir's written refusal legally ends the transaction. Confirm every name before any money is paid.
🏦
Mutation and DC Permission Both Depend On It Without the certificate, mutation is stuck and DC Permission cannot proceed
The sale chain has no entry point.
🔍
Andaman and Nicobar-specific: Free, but Physically Issued No fee here, unlike most states
The process runs through the Tehsildar though, not online from start to finish. Sellers based outside the islands need to sort this before any buyer conversation happens.
Red flag: Seller says the other heirs have verbally agreed but has no Family Member Certificate to show. Verbal agreement means nothing here. Paper first, payment never before that.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Legal Heir Certificate in Andaman Nicobar 2026 and what is it actually called?
Family Member Certificate. The Tehsildar issues it. Lists every surviving heir. No fee in Andaman. Each heir named must consent in writing before any inherited land sale can go forward or be registered.
How do you apply for the Family Member Certificate in Andaman and Nicobar?
Online via e-forms at any CSC or through andaman.gov.in, or walk into the Tehsildar office. Four documents needed: death certificate, ID proof for every family member, ration card, applicant affidavit. No payment required.
What documents go into the Legal Heir Certificate application in Andaman?
Death certificate of the deceased, ID proof of every family member, ration card, and the applicant's affidavit. All four are compulsory. Missing one gets the application returned whether you applied online or at the counter.
One heir is refusing. What happens to the land sale in Andaman?
It stops entirely. Not just their share — the whole deal. Andaman requires all heirs to consent. That single refusal is enough. The only way forward is either the heir agreeing or a court-ordered partition of shares.
Is the Family Member Certificate the same as a Succession Certificate?
Different documents, different authorities. The Tehsildar issues the Family Member Certificate for property transfer purposes. A Succession Certificate comes from the District Court under the Indian Succession Act 1925, and banks need it to release deposits.
Can you buy inherited land in Andaman and Nicobar without a Legal Heir Certificate?
No. Form-F keeps showing the deceased. No mutation. No DC Permission. No deed registration. The Family Member Certificate is step one before anything else in the sale process can happen.
Does the Family Member Certificate expire in Andaman?
No expiry. Once the Tehsildar stamps it, that is permanent. But if it is old, verify the family situation again. Deaths of heirs, adoptions, or other changes may mean the certificate no longer reflects the full picture.
There is a child listed as an heir. What happens in Andaman?
Minors cannot sign property agreements. Their share requires a court-appointed guardian to act on their behalf. This is not quick. Identify minor heirs before negotiating anything and get legal advice on the guardian process early.

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