Bank account settlement India: When both the account holder and the nominee die, the money is given to the legal heirs. However, this money is not received just like that. First of all, the heir has to show the correct documents to the bank…
Bank Account After Death: If both the account holder and his nominee die suddenly in the bank, then who will get the money? This question comes to mind many times, but very few people know the answer to it. Let us understand the rules of the bank in this case in simple words.
When someone opens a bank account, often the account holder chooses a nominee, that is, the person who will get the money after his death. But if both the account holder and the nominee die together or at different times, then the matter becomes a little complicated. In such a situation, where will the money go? The answer is legal heirs.
Who are legal heirs?
Legal heirs are those people who are directly related to the account holder’s family, such as husband / wife, children, parents or siblings. But the money will be received only when they show the correct documents to the bank. First of all, the bank has to be informed about the death of the account holder and the nominee. After this, you have to submit the death certificate and documents proving your identity (like Aadhaar or PAN card).
If everything is going well, the bank may ask for a letter of disclaimer or a legal heir certificate from the heirs. But if the amount is large or many people are claiming, a succession certificate may have to be obtained from the court. The bank will check these documents and then distribute the money among the heirs. The division will be done according to the Indian Succession Law (such as Hindu Succession Act, 1956).
If the account holder has made a will, the money will be divided according to what is written in the will. If there is no will, the money will be divided among the family members according to the law. For example, the spouse and child may get an equal share. If no heir comes forward, the money goes to the government after a long time, but this happens very rarely.