Priya’s father passed away in March 2026. Within weeks, the bank called — the account needed to be transferred. The pension office needed a document. The property registration office needed proof. All of them asked for one thing: the Varisu Certificate (வாரிசு சான்றிதழ்).
Priya had never heard of it before. By the time she found the right portal, registered a CAN Number, and submitted the application, three weeks had passed. This guide covers every step — so you don’t lose those weeks.
Tamil Nadu Varisu Certificate 2026 ( வாரிசு சான்றிதழ்) is the Legal Heir Certificate issued by the Tamil Nadu Revenue Department. It officially confirms who the legal heirs of a deceased person are — and is required for property transfer, bank account succession, pension claims, and government compensation.
Official Portal: 👉 tnesevai.tn.gov.in
💡 Quick Answer: Varisu Certificate = Legal Heir Certificate | Service Code: REV-114 Apply at: tnesevai.tn.gov.in → CAN Number → REV-114 Fee: ₹60 (online payment) Time: 15–30 working days Download: tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Check Status → Download Certificate
What is a Varisu Certificate? (வாரிசு சான்றிதழ் என்றால் என்ன?)
A Varisu Certificate is an official document issued by the Tamil Nadu Revenue Department that identifies the legal heirs ( வாரிசுகள்) of a deceased person.
When you need it:
- Transfer the deceased’s bank account or fixed deposits
- Claim pension, EPF, insurance, or gratuity
- Register property in the legal heir’s name
- Apply for government compensation or survivor benefits
- Transfer utilities, vehicle RC, or other assets
Varisu Certificate vs Succession Certificate — what’s the difference:
| Varisu Certificate (REV-114) | Succession Certificate | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Revenue Department (Tahsildar) | Civil Court |
| Time | 15–30 days | 3–6 months |
| Cost | ₹60 | Court fees + advocate fees |
| Used for | Bank accounts, pension, small property, government benefits | Large disputed assets, debts, securities |
| Best for | Most cases — bank, pension, property transfer | Only when there is a legal dispute or large movable assets |
For most families, the Varisu Certificate is sufficient. The Succession Certificate is needed only when the amount involved is large or there is a family dispute.
Who Can Apply?
Any of the following can apply for Varisu Certificate in Tamil Nadu:
- Spouse (wife or husband) of the deceased
- Children — son or daughter (including married daughters — eligible per Supreme Court ruling)
- Parents of the deceased
- Siblings — if no spouse or children
Important: Married daughters are fully eligible to be named as legal heirs. The application must include ALL legal heirs — leaving out even one heir can cause rejection.
Documents Required
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Death Certificate (மரண சான்றிதழ்) | Original — from local body / hospital |
| Aadhaar Card | All applicants + deceased (if available) |
| Smart Ration Card | Family identity proof |
| Self-Declaration Affidavit | Declaring all heirs — on ₹20 stamp paper |
| Marriage Certificate | If wife is applying |
| Birth Certificate | If son/daughter is applying (to prove relationship) |
| Residence Proof | Electricity bill / water bill of deceased |
Scan tip: Use Adobe Scan or CamScanner app — not phone camera directly. Poor quality scans are a top rejection reason. Keep each file under 1MB PDF.
Name mismatch warning: If the deceased person’s name differs between the Death Certificate and Ration Card — even a small spelling variation — attach a notarized affidavit explaining the discrepancy. Without this, the application will be rejected.
CAN Number — Most Important Step
CAN (Citizen Access Number) is mandatory before you can apply for any Revenue service on tnesevai.tn.gov.in. Most applications fail because people skip this step.
What is CAN? It is your unique citizen identity number on the TN e-Sevai portal — linked to your Aadhaar.
How to get CAN Number:
Step 1: Go to tnesevai.tn.gov.in
Step 2: Click “Citizen Login” → then “Search CAN”
Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number → if CAN already exists, it will show. If not:
Step 4: Click “Register CAN” → fill name, Aadhaar, mobile number → OTP verify
Step 5: CAN Number generated — note it down. This is your permanent ID on the portal.
Without CAN Number, you cannot proceed to the REV-114 application form.
Online Apply — Step by Step
Service Code: REV-114 | Fee: ₹60
Step 1: tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Citizen Login → login with CAN Number + password
Step 2: Click “Revenue Department” → search “REV-114” or “Legal Heir Certificate”
Step 3: Click on the service → application form opens
Step 4: Fill Deceased Person Details:
- Full name (as in Death Certificate)
- Date of Death
- Address (last residence)
Step 5: Add all Legal Heirs one by one:
- Name (as in Aadhaar — exact spelling)
- Relationship to deceased
- Age and Aadhaar number
- All heirs must be listed — even married daughters, even minor children
Step 6: Upload Documents — one by one as requested
Step 7: Pay ₹60 fee online — UPI / Net Banking / Card
Step 8: Submit → Acknowledgement slip downloads — save it. Your Application ID is on this slip.
Application Status Check (ஆவண நிலை சரிபார்)
Step 1: tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Citizen Login
Step 2: Click “Check Status” or “Track Application”
Step 3: Enter your Application ID (from acknowledgement slip)
Step 4: Status appears:
| Status | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Application Submitted | Received by portal | Wait |
| Under VAO Verification | Village Administrative Officer checking | Wait 5-7 days |
| Under RI Verification | Revenue Inspector checking | Wait |
| Under Tahsildar Approval | Final authority reviewing | Wait |
| Approved | Certificate ready | Download now |
| Rejected | See rejection reason | Fix and re-apply |
Certificate Download (சான்றிதழ் பதிவிறக்கம்)
Once status shows “Approved”:
Step 1: tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Citizen Login
Step 2: Go to “My Applications” or “Download Certificate”
Step 3: Find your REV-114 application → click “Download”
Step 4: PDF downloads — digitally signed by Tahsildar
The downloaded certificate has a QR code — government offices and banks can scan it to verify authenticity. You do not need to get it attested separately.
Free or paid? The ₹60 fee is paid at application time. Downloading the approved certificate is free.
Offline Apply (If Needed)
Visit nearest Taluk Office or VAO (Village Administrative Office) with original documents:
- Ask for Varisu Certificate / Legal Heir Certificate application form
- Fill and attach all documents (same list as above)
- Submit → get acknowledgement receipt
- Check status at tnesevai.tn.gov.in using Application ID
Offline processing takes slightly longer than online.
Common Rejection Reasons + Fixes
Rejection 1: Name mismatch between Death Certificate and Ration Card Fix: Attach a notarized affidavit stating both names refer to the same person.
Rejection 2: Not all legal heirs listed Fix: Re-apply listing every heir including married daughters, minor children, and separated siblings.
Rejection 3: Documents blurry or incomplete Fix: Re-scan using a scanner app. Each document in clear PDF under 1MB.
Rejection 4: Death Certificate not issued by proper authority Fix: Get Death Certificate from local body (Panchayat / Municipality / Corporation) — hospital discharge summary alone is not enough.
Rejection 5: Affidavit format incorrect Fix: Get affidavit on ₹20 stamp paper from nearest notary — specific format available at Taluk office.
Appeal if rejected: File grievance at tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Grievance section. Or visit the Tahsildar’s office directly.
FAQs
Varisu Certificate online apply kaise karein Tamil Nadu mein? tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Citizen Login → CAN Number register karein → REV-114 select karein → deceased aur sab heirs ki details → documents upload → ₹60 pay → submit. Application ID save karein.
CAN Number kya hota hai aur kaise milta hai? CAN (Citizen Access Number) TN e-Sevai portal par aapka unique ID hai. tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Search CAN → Aadhaar number → agar nahi hai toh Register CAN → OTP → CAN generate.
Varisu Certificate download kaise karein? tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Login → My Applications → REV-114 application → Download Certificate. Approved hone ke baad free mein download hota hai. QR code se verified hai.
Kya married daughter Varisu Certificate ke liye eligible hai? Haan — Supreme Court ruling ke anusaar married daughters bhi legal heirs hain aur Varisu Certificate mein unka naam hona chahiye.
Varisu Certificate mein kitni fees lagti hai? ₹60 — online application ke time pay hoti hai. Certificate download free hai.
Processing time kitna hai? 15–30 working days. VAO verification → RI verification → Tahsildar approval — yeh teen stages mein hota hai.
Application reject ho jaaye toh kya karein? tnesevai.tn.gov.in → rejection reason check karein → specific problem fix karein → re-apply. Ya Taluk office / Tahsildar se milein.
Pita ka Death Certificate kho gaya — kya karein? Local body (Panchayat/Municipality) se duplicate Death Certificate apply karein pehle. Bina Death Certificate ke Varisu Certificate nahi milega.
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| TN e-Sevai Portal | tnesevai.tn.gov.in |
| Citizen Login | tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Citizen Login |
| CAN Registration | tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Search/Register CAN |
| Check Status | tnesevai.tn.gov.in → Track Application |
| TN Revenue Department | tn.gov.in |
Priya submitted her application on the fourth day after starting this process. The VAO visited within a week. Status changed to “Approved” on day 21. She downloaded the certificate — shared it with the bank, the pension office, and the property office. Everything moved forward.
If you are going through the same — start with the CAN Number today. That one step unlocks everything else.
Related Articles:
- TN e-District Services 2026 — Income & Community Certificate
- TVK Government Schemes 2026 — Tamil Nadu New Government
- TN Employment Exchange Registration 2026
Information based on Tamil Nadu Revenue Department and tnesevai.tn.gov.in official guidelines. Fees and processes may change — verify at official portal before applying.