What is the Varsai Certificate?
The Varsai Certificate (ગુજરાતી: વર્સાઈ પ્રમાણ પત્ર) — also known as the Legal Heir Certificate or Waris Certificate — is a legal document issued by the Government of Gujarat to identify the surviving legal heirs of a deceased person. When a person dies without a will (intestate), the Varsai Certificate enables the heirs to claim their rightful inheritance.
In Gujarat, the Mamlatdar (Head of Taluka) is responsible for issuing Varsai certificates in rural areas; the Zonal Officer is responsible in urban areas. The application can be submitted online at digitalgujarat.gov.in or offline at the Mamlatdar / Jan Seva Kendra office. Fee: ₹20. Processing: approximately 60 days. The certificate is valid for life, no renewal required.
When is the Varsai Certificate Required?
Documents Required
Death Certificate
Official death certificate of the deceased from Municipal Corporation or Gram Panchayat
Pedhinamu (Family Pedigree)
Certified family tree from local Talati-cum-Mantri confirming all family members
Identity Proof of Applicant
Aadhaar Card or Voter ID of the person applying
Relationship Proof
Birth certificate, marriage certificate, ration card, or Aadhaar showing relationship with deceased
Two Witnesses (if required)
Neighbors or local residents for Panchnama to verify family structure
Passport-size Photo
Recent photograph of the applicant
How to Apply | Online & Offline
Online (via digitalgujarat.gov.in)
Log in and select Revenue → Varsai Certificate
Visit digitalgujarat.gov.in → log in → click the Revenue option from the menu → select Varsai Certificate.
Select language and fill the form
Select your preferred language (Gujarati or English). Fill in details of the deceased person and all legal heirs including names, ages, relationships, and addresses.
Upload documents and pay ₹20 fee
Upload the death certificate, Pedhinamu, identity proof, and relationship proof. Pay the nominal fee of ₹20 via the portal's payment gateway (or send OTP via the payment option).
Submit and track via SMS
Submit the application. You will receive an SMS for tracking status. Once the Talati/Mamlatdar verifies, download the certificate from the Digital Gujarat portal. Processing: approximately 60 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Varsai Certificate (also called Legal Heir Certificate or Waris Certificate) in Gujarat is a legal document issued by the Mamlatdar office (in rural areas) or Zonal Officer (in urban areas). It establishes the relationship between a deceased person and their surviving legal heirs, enabling them to claim property, bank accounts, insurance, pension, provident fund, and other assets. The fee is Rs 20 and processing takes approximately 60 days. Apply at digitalgujarat.gov.in → Revenue → Varsai Certificate.
Online: Visit digitalgujarat.gov.in → log in → Revenue → Varsai Certificate → select language → enter deceased person's details and heirs' details → upload death certificate, Pedhinamu, and identity proof → pay Rs 20 fee → submit. Track status via SMS. Offline: Visit Mamlatdar / Talati / Jan Seva Kendra office, obtain the application form, fill it with witnesses (Javab Panch Namu) if required, attach documents, submit with Rs 20 fee, collect certificate after ~60 days.
Required documents: Death certificate of the deceased, Pedhinamu (family pedigree document from local Talati confirming family tree), identity proof of the applicant (Aadhaar / Voter ID), relationship proof (birth certificate, marriage certificate, ration card, or Aadhaar), and passport-size photo. Two witnesses (Panchnama) may be required to verify the family structure.
Varsai Certificate (Legal Heir Certificate) is issued by the Mamlatdar (taluka officer) and identifies the legal heirs of a deceased person for claiming insurance, government dues, bank accounts, and property mutation. Succession Certificate is issued by a civil court and is required for more complex matters involving disputed inheritance or selling the deceased's property. The Varsai Certificate alone is generally sufficient for most inheritance purposes; a Succession Certificate is additionally needed to sell property.
The Varsai Certificate (Legal Heir Certificate) in Gujarat is valid for a lifetime and does not require renewal. It is a one-time document that permanently establishes the legal heir status. Processing time from application to issuance is approximately 60 days (2 months), excluding government holidays.