A father dies in Karachi. His family knows he maintained a savings account, but nobody knows the balance. His son visits the branch with a death certificate and asks the manager to release the money. The manager requests proof of legal inheritance. Why does the family need another document?
The answer lies in the difference between knowing who owned the money and proving who has the legal right to receive it. When a bank account holder dies in Pakistan, the balance generally forms part of the deceased person’s estate. The bank must establish who is entitled to receive the funds, often through a succession certificate.
What happens when a bank learns of the account holder’s death?
After receiving reliable notice of death, a bank normally restricts transactions that depend on the deceased customer’s personal authority. It applies its deceased-customer procedure and relevant law. The balance does not become the bank’s property. Nor does someone who knows the ATM PIN automatically gain the right to withdraw it.
A relative may have helped the deceased use mobile banking for years. That arrangement does not create a new right to take money after death. Notify the branch and request its claim requirements in writing.
Who can claim the money?
The lawful heirs claim their respective entitlements under the applicable inheritance law. For Muslim families, the precise shares depend on the relatives who survive the deceased and the relevant rules of Muslim personal law. Other personal laws may apply in other circumstances.
An eldest son cannot collect the entire balance merely because he is the eldest child. A surviving spouse does not automatically receive every rupee either. A bank needs legally valid authority before releasing or distributing estate funds. The position can become more complicated when an heir is a minor or lives abroad.
What is a succession certificate?
A succession certificate provides legal authority relating to specified movable assets of a deceased person. Bank deposits are movable assets, so this document commonly features in inheritance claims. NADRA has been authorised under applicable federal and provincial legislation to issue succession documents administratively where the requirements are met.
NADRA generally distinguishes succession certificates for movable assets from letters of administration connected with immovable property. The application route varies by jurisdiction and the estate’s circumstances. NADRA’s published guidance describes special arrangements for Sindh and Balochistan involving legal counsel. That does not mean every Karachi inheritance claim must start as a contested court dispute. Check the official NADRA website for the current requirements.
How to claim a deceased person’s bank account
1. Notify the bank
Provide the account holder’s details and death certificate. Ask for a written explanation of the claim procedure and a document checklist.
2. Identify the account
Provide an account number or IBAN if available. Ask what information the branch may provide to a lawfully authorised representative for the succession application.
3. Prepare family records
The process may require the death certificate, cancellation record for the deceased’s CNIC, Family Registration Certificate, heirs’ identity documents and details of the assets. The authority or bank may request further evidence depending on the case.
4. Obtain the relevant authority
Apply through the NADRA succession process where available, or the competent legal forum where necessary. Follow the procedures for the relevant province and any unresolved family objections.
5. Submit the claim
Give the branch the succession certificate or other legally accepted authority and its claim forms. Request a written response explaining the bank’s verification and payment procedure.
What does a NADRA succession certificate cost?
NADRA’s published schedule has listed fees of Rs 10,000 for assets below Rs 100,000 and Rs 20,000 for assets of Rs 100,000 or above, with an additional fee in some circumstances. Confirm the fee and the provincial procedure directly with NADRA before paying. Fees can change, and legal representation may add costs.
For a small balance, the expense matters. Before starting, ask the bank whether the particular account qualifies for any lawful alternative claim procedure.
Can heirs claim money without a succession certificate?
There is a narrow but important distinction. The State Bank of Pakistan issued CPD Circular Letter No. 1 on 7 February 2012 for specified refunds of unclaimed deposits already surrendered by banks to SBP. Under that procedure, banks may submit qualifying deceased-account refund claims of Rs 100,000 or less without a succession certificate, provided they satisfy themselves about the genuine legal heirs and obtain prescribed documentation.
This is not a general exemption for every ordinary bank account containing Rs 100,000 or less. It relates to the specific surrendered-unclaimed-deposits procedure. Do not assume that a family can withdraw a small normal bank balance merely by producing a death certificate.
What if the account is jointly held?
A joint account needs separate review. Suppose a husband and wife shared an account and one dies. Whether the survivor may continue operating it depends on the account mandate and applicable law. An arrangement allowing survivor operation is not necessarily conclusive proof of ultimate beneficial ownership of the entire balance. Ask the branch to explain the particular mandate in writing.
What if an heir lives abroad?
An heir’s residence abroad does not in itself extinguish an inheritance entitlement. A daughter living in Germany may need to provide identity documents or valid authorisation for the estate process in Pakistan. Receiving an inheritance share and sending that money abroad are separate steps.
In May 2026, SBP issued EPD Circular Letter No. 11 concerning legacies and distribution of deceased persons’ assets to non-resident legal heirs. Ask the authorised dealer for the documents applicable to the intended remittance. An inheritance entitlement alone does not complete foreign-exchange compliance.
Does a nominee receive the whole balance?
A nominee, authorised operator and legal heir are not necessarily the same person. The effect of a nomination depends on the product, governing law and contractual documentation. A nomination should not automatically be treated as proof that every other lawful heir has lost their inheritance rights. Ask for the account terms and seek legal advice if the position is disputed.
What if the bank delays the claim?
The bank may need to match the legal documents against its records, but the family can still ask for clear reasons when processing is delayed. Request outstanding requirements in writing and keep any complaint reference number. A legally necessary document request is not itself misconduct; unexplained or contradictory requirements may justify escalation.
For related information, read What Pakistani Bank Customers Should Know About Their Rights.
What if the family does not know which bank held the money?
Look through surviving statements, cheque books and financial correspondence. Approach identified banks with evidence of the death and legally required authority. Banks cannot necessarily reveal confidential account information to any relative who asks. The rules also differ when an old balance has been surrendered to SBP as an unclaimed deposit.
A missing transfer raises different questions. See Bank Transfer Failed in Pakistan? for payment tracing and complaints.
One question worth asking the branch manager
Before paying for legal documents, confirm whether the deposit remains in an ordinary account or is part of the surrendered unclaimed-deposit process. Two accounts owned by the same deceased customer may need different steps.
I would ask the branch manager: Under which legal and regulatory procedure will this particular account be settled? That answer helps the family choose the correct paperwork rather than wasting visits and fees.
The money belongs to the estate, not to the relative who reaches the branch first. For more Pakistan banking guides, see the Pakistan Payments Guide.
Official sources and further reading
NADRA: Succession certificate services and requirements; State Bank of Pakistan: Banking circulars, unclaimed deposits and foreign-exchange regulations. For the specific provisions discussed above, consult CPD Circular Letter No. 1 of 7 February 2012 and EPD Circular Letter No. 11 of May 2026.
Information checked on 17 October 2026. This guide explains general banking practice and inheritance claims in Pakistan. It is not legal advice. Disputed heirship, unusual accounts and conflicting claims require qualified Pakistani legal advice.