Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata: Mandatory Will Probate Ends, Heirs Benefit

• Mandatory probate of wills is no longer required in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
• The Indian government amended Section 213 of the Indian Succession Act, 1925, through the Repealing and Amending Act, 2025.
• Heirs in these cities can now claim property without probate, making the process faster, cheaper, and less court-driven.
• Probate remains mandatory only if there is a dispute over the will, requiring court resolution.
• The repealed rule was a colonial-era, discriminatory provision, previously applicable only to Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, and Parsis in these three cities.

Why It Matters: Heirs in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata can now claim property faster and cheaper as mandatory will probate ends.