Succession Certificate Court Fees 2026: Chart and Calculator

Succession Certificate Court Fees 2026: Chart and Calculator

Last updated: 9 October 2026. Reviewed by the Propresolve legal team. This page explains the court fee the State charges on a succession certificate. It is a government fee, paid to the court, and it is separate from any professional help you take.

Short answer: the court fee on a succession certificate is an ad valorem fee, worked out on the value of the debts and securities listed in the certificate (bank balances, deposits, shares, mutual funds and similar), not on the whole estate. Each state sets its own rate. In Maharashtra the fee follows the probate slabs: 2% up to ₹50,000, 4% from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh, 6% from ₹2 lakh to ₹3 lakh and 7.5% above ₹3 lakh, subject to a maximum of ₹75,000. Use the calculator below for Maharashtra, and check your state’s Court Fees Act for other states.

What the Court Fee Is Charged On

• Only the debts and securities in the certificate. A succession certificate under Part X of the Indian Succession Act, 1925 covers debts and securities, so the court fee is worked out on the amount or value of those items, including interest due on the day you apply.
• Not on immovable property. Land and flats are dealt with through mutation, legal heir or heirship documents, a will, or probate, not through a succession certificate.
• Market value for securities. Shares and similar securities are valued at their market value on the day their inclusion in the certificate is applied for.
• Paid when you file. The court fee is paid at the time of filing the petition, through court-fee stamps or the e-court fee system used by your state.

Maharashtra Court Fee Chart (Succession Certificate)

Under the Maharashtra Court-fees Act, 1959, Schedule I, Article 11, a certificate under Part X of the Indian Succession Act pays the fee charged on probate (Article 10) on the debts and securities specified in it. The Article 10 slabs are:

The slabs work like income tax slabs: each rate applies only to the part of the value inside that band. The ₹75,000 maximum is reached when the listed debts and securities are worth about ₹11.27 lakh.

Worked examples (Maharashtra)

Maharashtra Court Fee Calculator

Other Maharashtra Rules That Change the Figure

• Extension of the certificate: if you later add a debt or security under section 376 of the Indian Succession Act, the fee on that added amount is two times the normal fee.
• Later probate or letters of administration: if probate or letters of administration are later granted for the same estate, the fee on the later grant is reduced by the fee already paid on the certificate.
• Heirship certificate: a certificate under Bombay Regulation VIII of 1827 pays the same probate-rate fee, on the value of the property it covers (Schedule I, Article 12).
• Widows: in 2024 the Maharashtra government was reported to have reduced the maximum fee payable by widows for probate, letters of administration and heirship certificates from ₹75,000 to ₹10,000. Confirm the current notification before relying on it.

Court Fee in Other States: Which Law Applies

Court fee is a state subject, so each state sets its own rate in its Court Fees Act and its later amendments. Published figures for some states vary widely and are often out of date, so confirm the current schedule with the district court or the state’s legislation portal before filing.

State guides: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Kerala.

How to Keep the Court Fee Down, Legally

• List only what needs the certificate. Assets with a registered nominee, joint holdings with survivorship, and amounts a bank releases under its own claim procedure may not need to be in the petition. Each asset left out reduces the value the fee is charged on.
• Check the value date. Debts are taken with interest up to the day you apply, and securities at market value on that day.
• Plan extensions. Adding assets later attracts twice the fee in Maharashtra, so list every asset that needs the certificate in the first petition.
• Consider the right document. For land and flats, a succession certificate is usually not the right document at all.

Process in Brief

1. File a petition in the district or city civil court where the deceased lived, with the death certificate, the family details and a schedule of debts and securities.
2. Pay the court fee on the scheduled value.
3. The court issues notice and the petition is published, so anyone with an objection can come forward.
4. If there is no objection, the court grants the certificate, often with a security or surety bond.

Read more: succession certificate service, succession certificate in Mumbai, surety bond, newspaper publication, NRI succession certificate.

Need Help?

Propresolve works out which assets need the certificate, the court fee under your state’s law, and files and follows the petition, including for heirs living abroad. Book a 20-minute assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the court fee for a succession certificate calculated?

It is an ad valorem fee on the amount or value of the debts and securities listed in the certificate. The rate depends on the state. In Maharashtra it follows the probate slabs of 2%, 4%, 6% and 7.5%, with a maximum of ₹75,000.

What is the maximum court fee for a succession certificate in Maharashtra?

₹75,000, under Schedule I, Articles 10 and 11 of the Maharashtra Court-fees Act, 1959. It is reached at roughly ₹11.27 lakh of listed debts and securities.

Is the court fee charged on the whole estate?

No. It is charged on the debts and securities specified in the certificate. Immovable property is not covered by a succession certificate.

What is the court fee on ₹10 lakh in Maharashtra?

₹65,500: ₹1,000 on the first ₹50,000, ₹6,000 on the next ₹1.5 lakh, ₹6,000 on the next ₹1 lakh and ₹52,500 on the remaining ₹7 lakh.

What happens if I add assets to the certificate later?

In Maharashtra, the fee on debts or securities added by extension under section 376 is two times the normal fee.

What is the court fee for a succession certificate in UP, MP or Jharkhand?

It is set by the Court-fees Act, 1870 as amended by each of those states. Published rates differ, so confirm the current schedule with the district court before filing.

When is the court fee paid?

When the petition is filed, through court-fee stamps or the e-court fee system used in your state.

Is there any relief for widows?

Maharashtra was reported in 2024 to have capped the fee for widows at ₹10,000 for probate, letters of administration and heirship certificates. Confirm the current notification for your case.