Will registration in Kerala: the short answer
Registration is handled by the Registration Department, Government of Kerala through Kerala Registration Department. You register where you live, and the Will can deal with property anywhere in India.
Cities in Kerala
We prepare and register Wills for families across Kerala. These cities have their own local guide; everywhere else is covered in the same way.
- Kochi
- Thiruvananthapuram covered
- Kozhikode covered
- Thrissur covered
- Kollam covered
Registering or depositing
Registration records the Will in the office's books. Depositing is different: under Sections 42 to 46 of the Registration Act, you hand the Will to the Registrar in a sealed cover, it is kept unopened, and it is opened only after your death on an application. Some Kerala families prefer this because nobody can read the Will in the meantime.
Joint family property is history in Kerala
The Kerala Joint Hindu Family System (Abolition) Act, 1975 ended the joint family system in the state. Property that was once held jointly is now held by individuals as co-owners, and each owner can leave their own share by Will. We check how your share came to you before drafting.
For Christian families, the Supreme Court's 1986 judgment in Mary Roy v. State of Kerala means the Indian Succession Act applies, and daughters inherit equally if there is no Will. A Will is how you make a different, deliberate choice.
If you work in the Gulf
You can sign your Will abroad before two witnesses, and it is valid in India. If you want it registered, it is easiest to do on a visit home, or a family member can present it after your death. Our NRI package plans around your leave dates.
How it works in Kerala
In Kerala, you sign the Will before two witnesses, book a slot on Kerala Registration Department at the Sub-Registrar office covering your home address, and attend together for identity checks, photographs and thumb impressions. The Will is recorded and handed back, usually the same day. We confirm the office and book the slot for you.
See the documents checklist and our Will registration service.
Our packages in Kerala
Will registration in Kerala: FAQs
Can I deposit my Will instead of registering it in Kerala?
Yes. Under the Registration Act you can deposit your Will with the Registrar in a sealed cover. It stays unopened until it is needed after your death.
I work in Dubai. Can I make a Will for my house in Kerala?
Yes. You can sign it abroad before two witnesses. Registering it in Kerala is optional and can be done on a visit home.
Do daughters inherit equally in Kerala?
If there is no Will, succession law decides, and since Mary Roy (1986) Christian daughters inherit equally in Kerala. With a Will, you decide the shares yourself.
General information, not legal advice.
Make your Will in Kerala
Speak to our team for free. We tell you which package suits your family, what it costs and how long it takes, before you commit to anything.