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The exact list depends on the issuing bank, whether the FD is single or joint, the deposit value, whether a will exists, and whether any heir objects. The Indian procedures below are a practical guide; obtain the current checklist from the bank holding the FD before paying for affidavits, bonds, probate, or other legal formalities.
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First identify which claim route applies
Do not collect documents blindly. Ask the branch or the bank’s deceased-claims desk to confirm how the FD is recorded and which route they will use.
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A registered nominee normally makes the claim using the bank’s nominee/deceased-depositor form. The nominee receives the money from the bank subject to the bank’s process; succession rights among legal heirs can still be a separate matter under applicable law.
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Joint FD with a survivorship mandate
A surviving holder may be able to claim under the survivorship instruction in the account or deposit record. The bank will still verify the death and the survivor’s identity. Ask whether all surviving holders must sign and whether the FD can continue, be closed, or be paid out.
No nominee or survivorship instruction
The bank must establish who is entitled to the money. This generally means legal-heir evidence and, depending on the bank and amount, an indemnity, no-objection or disclaimer from other heirs, a surety, or a declaration from an independent person who knows the family.
Will, disagreement, or unclear succession
A will, a dispute among heirs, or uncertainty about who inherited the deposit can move the case into a legal-representation or court-document route. Do not assume that a will automatically means probate, or that a succession certificate is required in every uncontested claim.
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Documents usually needed when a nominee or survivor claims
For a straightforward nominee or eligible-survivor claim, assemble the following before visiting the bank:
- The bank’s deceased-depositor claim form. Use the form issued by the bank that holds the FD, not a form from another institution. The nominee or surviving holder normally signs it.
- The parent’s death certificate. Banks use it to establish the death before releasing funds. Ask whether an original, certified copy, or a digitally verifiable copy is accepted.
- Claimant identity and KYC. The bank will request an officially valid identity document and any KYC information needed to open or verify the account to which the proceeds will be paid.
- The FD or term-deposit receipt. Canara Bank’s published checklist treats the original receipt as mandatory for a term-deposit claim. If it is lost, that checklist calls for a duplicate; other banks may prescribe a different lost-receipt declaration or indemnity.
- Payment-account details. The bank may ask for proof of the account into which the maturity value or closure proceeds should be credited. Canara lists this as an item that may be requested for credit.
Bring the original documents for inspection when possible and carry copies. Ask the bank to identify exactly which copies must be self-attested, notarised, or certified; those formalities are not uniform across banks.
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Early closure or a joint-deposit change
If the FD is being closed before maturity, or a joint deposit is being altered after one holder’s death, extra paperwork can apply. ICICI’s published procedure, for example, lists an additional legal-heir no-objection document for certain premature-closure cases. Treat that as an ICICI-specific example, not a universal rule.
Documents when there is no nominee
Without a nomination or survivorship clause, ask the bank whether it has a simplified process for the deposit’s value. The published procedures of several Indian banks show the following categories of documents:
- No-nomination deceased-claim form and the death certificate.
- Identity/KYC documents for every person who is signing or receiving payment.
- Proof of legal heirship. Depending on the bank, this may be a legal-heir certificate, another government-recognised heirship record, or a bank-accepted declaration from an independent person familiar with the family.
- Indemnity bond. This protects the bank if a later claimant alleges that payment was made to the wrong person. The bank may provide its own wording and may require stamp-paper execution or attestation.
- No-objection or disclaimer letters. Non-claiming heirs may need to state that they do not object to payment to the named claimant. The bank may require signatures from all relevant heirs.
- Surety. Some amount bands and circumstances require another person to guarantee the claim. The number and qualifications of sureties vary by bank.
- FD receipt or the bank’s lost-receipt alternative. The receipt requirement remains bank-specific, but Canara’s checklist requires a duplicate when the original is unavailable.
Before arranging an affidavit or bond, request the bank’s exact format, the required stamp value, who must sign, and whether witnesses or notarisation are needed. A document that satisfies one bank may not satisfy another.
Bank thresholds are examples, not nationwide rules
Indian banks publish their own amount bands and simplified procedures. The figures below illustrate why you must use the issuing bank’s checklist.
| Bank policy example | Published amount or route | What it means for a claimant |
|---|---|---|
| State Bank of India (SBI) | SBI describes a simplified no-surety procedure for qualifying no-nomination deceased-deposit claims up to ₹15 lakh. | This is an SBI threshold. It does not create a ₹15 lakh rule for every Indian bank. |
| Canara Bank | Its online no-nomination checklist displays a ₹15 lakh threshold and separates document paths around that amount. | Use Canara’s own forms and threshold if the FD is with Canara; do not transfer the path to another bank. |
| ICICI Bank | Its policy separates no-nomination claim-document lists at ₹2 crore and distinguishes claims with and without legal representation. | The ₹2 crore band is an ICICI procedure only. The bank may request different evidence below or above that band. |
If the bank’s current website and a branch handout differ, ask the branch to confirm which version applies to your FD and the date of the policy being used.
When a will, probate, or court document may be required
Give the bank a copy of the will, if one exists, and ask which legal instrument it accepts for this claim. The answer can depend on the governing law, the location of the assets, the wording of the will, and whether anyone objects.
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A bank may accept the will together with heirship evidence, an indemnity, and consents, or it may ask for probate or another form of legal representation. Canara’s published checklist treats probate conditionally rather than as an automatic requirement for every will.
Heirs disagree or succession is unclear
Where heirs contest entitlement, banks may require a succession certificate, probate, a letter of administration, or a court order/decree. SBI’s guidance lists these instruments for disputed or legally represented cases, and Canara describes court documentation for contested claims. The bank may suspend payment until the dispute is resolved.
How to respond to a court-document request
- Ask the bank for the request in writing, including the exact instrument and whether it applies to the whole deposit or only the disputed share.
- Take the FD record, death certificate, will, family and heirship records, and any previous bank correspondence to a qualified lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
- Do not sign an indemnity or disclaimer that gives up rights you do not understand. Obtain independent advice if heirs have competing claims.
If the original FD receipt is missing
Tell the bank immediately that the receipt is unavailable. Canara’s term-deposit checklist says a duplicate is required when the original is lost. The issuing bank may instead require a lost-receipt declaration, indemnity, newspaper notice, or another control, but those alternatives are bank-specific.
Do not create or alter a substitute receipt. Ask the bank to record the loss, block misuse of the original if its system permits, and issue written instructions for obtaining the duplicate or completing the claim without it.
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A practical filing sequence
- Locate the deposit record. Find the FD receipt, account number, branch, holder names, maturity date, and nomination or survivorship details.
- Notify the issuing bank of the death. Ask for its latest deceased-claim form and the checklist for the specific FD type and value.
- Choose the correct route. Confirm whether the bank is processing a nominee/survivor claim, a no-nomination heir claim, or a will/legal-representation claim.
- Prepare identity and death evidence. Assemble the death certificate and KYC documents in the names and formats the bank specifies.
- Resolve the receipt issue. Submit the original FD receipt, or follow the bank’s written duplicate or lost-receipt procedure.
- Collect additional heirship papers only if requested. Obtain legal-heir evidence, declarations, indemnity, NOCs, surety, probate, or court documents according to the bank’s checklist.
- File and obtain an acknowledgement. Ask for a stamped receipt, service-request number, or online acknowledgement listing every document accepted and every item still outstanding.
- Confirm the payment method. Verify the destination account, whether the FD will be prematurely closed or paid at maturity, and how interest will be calculated under the bank’s terms.
How long should payment take?
The Reserve Bank of India’s 2015 deceased-depositor guidance says claims covered by a nomination or survivorship clause should be settled within 15 days after the bank receives proof of death and satisfactory identification of the claimant. That standard is specifically for the covered nominee/survivor category; it should not be applied automatically to no-nomination, disputed, or court-dependent claims.
Central Bank of India’s 2025–26 policy also states a 15-day norm for nominee or survivor claims and a separate norm for claims without a survivor or nominee clause. A delay may occur when documents are incomplete, the death record cannot be verified, the FD receipt is missing, or the bank is waiting for heirship or court papers. Ask the bank to identify the missing condition rather than assuming the claim has been rejected.
“The survivor(s)/nominee(s) would be receiving payment from the bank as a trustee of the legal heirs of the deceased depositor.”
This wording explains why a bank can pay a nominee while questions among legal heirs remain separate from the bank’s payment process.
Common problems and fixes
The branch gives a generic list
Request the checklist for the exact FD number, ownership pattern, nominee status, amount band, and proposed payment method. Generic lists often omit the conditions that trigger a surety or court document.
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Different heirs live in different places
Ask whether the bank accepts separate NOCs, consents through a specified power of attorney, or documents signed before an authorised official. Do not assume an informal email or unsigned letter will be accepted.
The death certificate and bank record use different names
Raise the discrepancy before filing. The bank may require a name-variation affidavit, identity evidence, or a correction from the issuing authority.
The FD has matured but remains unpaid
Ask whether the deposit was renewed automatically, moved to a linked account, or placed on hold after the death notification. Request a written statement showing principal, interest, deductions, and the status of any renewal.
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Ask for the reason and the missing-document list in writing, then escalate through the bank’s internal grievance channel. Keep copies of every submission and acknowledgement. If the issue concerns competing inheritance rights, obtain legal advice rather than submitting contradictory declarations.
What to ask the bank before you leave
- Is a nominee or survivorship instruction recorded on this FD?
- Which deceased-claim form applies to this ownership and amount?
- Must every heir sign, and is a legal-heir certificate or independent-person declaration accepted?
- Is an indemnity, NOC, disclaimer, surety, probate, succession certificate, or court order required in this case?
- What is the accepted process if the original FD receipt is lost?
- Can the claim be filed at any branch or online, and who will receive the acknowledgement?
- Will the deposit be paid at maturity, closed early, or renewed while documents are being completed?
Use the issuing bank’s current written checklist as the controlling document. The baseline for a simple nominee or survivor claim is usually short; the paperwork expands when there is no nomination, a missing receipt, a will, a high-value deposit, or disagreement among heirs.
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