The checklist
| Document | Who | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Original Will, signed on every page, plus a photocopy | You | The document being registered |
| Photo ID: Aadhaar, PAN, passport or voter ID | You | The officer confirms who you are |
| Address proof | You | Shows the office has jurisdiction over your home |
| Photo ID | Each of the two witnesses | They confirm you signed and identify you |
| Passport-size photographs | You and the witnesses | Asked for by some offices |
| Doctor's certificate of sound mind | You, if elderly or unwell | Not required by law; strong evidence of capacity |
What you do not need
- Stamp paper. A Will attracts no stamp duty and can be written on plain paper.
- Property title deeds. They help describe the property correctly in the Will, but the office does not register the property itself.
- Your beneficiaries. The people inheriting do not attend.
Extra documents for NRIs
If you live abroad, carry your passport and, if relevant, your OCI card. If the Will was signed abroad, bring the original with any notarisation or apostille. See Will for NRIs.
Mistakes that send people home
- A beneficiary as a witness. Under Section 67 of the Indian Succession Act, a gift to a witness or their spouse is void.
- The wrong office. You register at the office covering your home address, not your property.
- No booked slot. Most states now book online; walk-ins are often turned away.
- Unsigned pages. Sign every page, not just the last.
Offices sometimes ask for extra items. On our Will registration service, we send the list for your specific office and check everything before the day.
Frequently asked questions
What documents are required for Will registration in India?
The original Will, your photo ID and address proof, two witnesses with their photo ID, and photographs if the office asks. A doctor's certificate is useful if you are elderly or unwell.
Is stamp paper needed to register a Will?
No. A Will needs no stamp paper and attracts no stamp duty.
Do I need property papers to register a Will?
No, but they help describe your property correctly in the Will.
General information, not legal advice.
Make your Will
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