Nadra introduces chatbot for succession certificates

The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has launched an automated chatbot to help families obtain information about succession certificates and letters of administration. The new facility aims to simplify the inheritance process by providing applicants with case-specific guidance and a list of required documents.

The chatbot, named “ID”, is available in both Urdu and English. Users can access it through Nadra’s revamped succession website on their mobile phones or computers.

The system asks users a few basic questions about the deceased person, legal heirs and inherited assets. It then generates the relevant application procedure and a checklist of documents required for their particular case.

Nadra spokesperson Syed Shabahat Ali said the chatbot operates entirely online through an automated question-and-answer system. Users do not need to provide their CNIC numbers or other personal information to receive guidance.

The facility also helps families identify the relevant Nadra office for their applications. It informs users at an early stage if their cases require court proceedings. Such situations include disputes among legal heirs or cases involving minor or mentally disabled heirs.

Families with members living abroad can also receive guidance on completing biometric verification through Nadra’s Pak ID facility.

However, Nadra has clarified that the chatbot is only a guidance service. Applicants have been advised to confirm the final document requirements with their nearest Nadra registration centre before submitting formal applications.

Nadra has been issuing succession certificates and letters of administration in uncontested inheritance cases since 2021. The new chatbot is intended to help families understand the process before visiting a registration centre.

The requirements vary according to the deceased person’s religion and sect, the province concerned and the nature of the inherited assets. The procedures also differ across provinces. For example, Sindh requires three newspaper advertisements, while other jurisdictions generally require two.

Nadra can issue these documents only when all legal heirs agree and there is no dispute over the inheritance. The authority cannot process cases involving minor or mentally disabled heirs. Applications also cannot be entertained if the matter is already pending before a court or has been decided by one.

The deceased person must be registered in Nadra’s records. All legal heirs must also be listed in the Family Registration Certificate (FRC). The applicant must possess a valid CNIC, Nadra card or Pakistan Origin Card (POC). The old manual National Identity Card is no longer accepted.

Applicants are generally required to visit a Nadra registration centre in person. However, in Sindh and Balochistan, a lawyer may appear on their behalf under the applicable procedure.

Families must provide the death certificate issued by the relevant union council, municipal authority or cantonment board. They must also submit proof of cancellation of the deceased person’s CNIC, the FRC and copies of the CNICs of all legal heirs.

Other mandatory documents include a Schedule-I authorisation letter attested by an oath commissioner and original property ownership documents. Nadra does not accept photocopies of property documents.

Additional documents may be required in certain cases. Applicants dealing with immovable property in Sindh must obtain a search certificate. A wakalatnama, or power of attorney, is also required when a lawyer submits an application in Sindh or Balochistan.

If the deceased was employed in the government or private sector, the family may also need a letter from the relevant department confirming pension or outstanding service dues.

The fee for a succession certificate or letter of administration is Rs10,000 if the total value of the assets is below Rs100,000. The fee increases to Rs20,000 when the assets are worth Rs100,000 or more.

In Sindh, the applicable fee is Rs22,000. A duplicate succession certificate costs Rs5,000.

Through the new chatbot, Nadra aims to reduce confusion and unnecessary visits to its offices. The facility will allow families to understand their eligibility, identify the documents required and learn about possible legal complications before formally applying for inheritance-related certificates.