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Pakistani law
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Succession Act, 1925
Succession Act, 1925
366 sections, in full, as enacted. This is legal information, not legal advice.
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s. 2
Definitions
s. 3
Power of Provincial Government to exempt any race, sect or tribe in the Province from operation of Act
s. 4
Application of Part
s. 5
Law regulating succession to deceased person’s immoveable and moveable property respectively
s. 6
One domicile only affects succession to moveables
s. 7
Domicile of origin of person of legitimate birth
s. 8
Domicile of origin of illegitimate child
s. 9
Continuance of domicile of origin
s. 10
Acquisition of new domicile
s. 11
Special mode of acquiring domicile in Pakistan
s. 14
Minor’s domicile
s. 15
Domicile acquired by woman on marriage
s. 16
Wife’s domicile during marriage
s. 17
Minor’s acquisition of new domicile
s. 18
Lunatic’s acquisition of new domicile
s. 19
Succession to moveable property in Pakistan, in absence of proof of domicile elsewhere
s. 21
Effect of marriage between person domiciled and one not domiciled in Pakistan
s. 22
Settlement of minor’s property in contemplation of marriage
s. 23
Application of Part
s. 24
Kindred or consanguinity
s. 25
Lineal consanguinity
s. 26
Collateral consanguinity
s. 27
Persons held for purpose of succession to be similarly related to deceased
s. 28
Mode of computing of degrees of kindred
s. 29
Application of Part
s. 30
As to what property deceased considered to have died intestate
s. 31
Chapter not to apply to Parsis
s. 32
Devolution of such property
s. 33
Where intestate has left widow and lineal descendants, or widow and kindred only, or widow and no kindred
s. 34
Where intestate has left no widow, and where he has left no kindred
s. 35
Rights of widower
s. 36
Rules of distribution
s. 37
Where intestate has left child or children only
s. 38
Where intestate has left no child, but grandchild or grandchildren
s. 39
Where intestate has left only great-grandchildren or remoter lineal descendants
s. 40
Where intestate leaves lineal descendants not all in same degree of kindred to him, and those through whom the more remote are descended are dead
s. 41
Rules of distribution where intestate has left no lineal descendants
s. 42
Where intestate’s father living
s. 43
Where intestate’s father dead but his mother, brothers and sisters living
s. 44
Where intestate’s father dead and his mother, a brother or sister, and children of any deceased brother or sister, living
s. 45
Where intestate’s father is dead and his mother and children of any deceased brother or sister living
s. 46
Where intestate’s father is dead, but his mother living and no sister, brother, nephew or niece
s. 47
Where intestate has left neither lineal descendant, nor father, nor mother
s. 48
Where intestate has left neither lineal descendant, nor parent, nor brother, nor sister
s. 49
Children’s advancements not brought into hotchpot
s. 51
Division of a male intestate’s property among his widow, children and parents
s. 52
Division of a female intestate’s property among her widower and children
s. 53
Division of share of predeceased child of intestate leaving lineal descendants
s. 54
Division of property where intestate leaves no lineal descendant but leaves a widow or widower or a widow of any lineal descendant
s. 55
Division of property where intestate leaves neither lineal descendants nor a widow or widower nor a widow of any lineal descendant
s. 56
Division of property where there is no relative entitled to succeed under the other provisions of this Chapter
s. 59
Person capable of making wills
s. 60
Testamentary guardian
s. 61
Will obtained by fraud, coercion or importunity
s. 62
Will may be revoked or altered
s. 63
Execution of unprivileged wills
s. 64
Incorporation of papers by reference
s. 65
Privileged wills
s. 66
Mode of making, and rules for executing, privileged wills
s. 67
Effect of gift to attesting witness
s. 68
Witness not disqualified by interest or by being executor
s. 69
Revocation of will by testator’s marriage
s. 70
Revocation of unprivileged will or codicil
s. 71
Effect of obliteration, interlineation or alteration in unprivileged will
s. 72
Revocation of privileged will or codicil
s. 73
Revival of unprivileged will
s. 74
Wording of will
s. 75
Inquiries to determine questions as to object or subject of will
s. 76
Misnomer or misdescription of object
s. 77
When words may be supplied
s. 78
Rejection of erroneous particulars in description of subject
s. 79
When part of description may not be rejected as erroneous
s. 80
Extrinsic evidence admissible in cases of patent ambiguity
s. 81
Extrinsic evidence inadmissible in case of patent ambiguity or deficiency
s. 82
Meaning of clause to be collected from entire will
s. 83
When words may be understood in restricted sense, and when in sense wider than usual
s. 84
Which of two possible constructions preferred
s. 85
No part rejected, if can be it reasonably construed
s. 86
Interpretation of words repeated in different parts of will
s. 87
Testator’s intention to be effectuated, as far as, possible
s. 88
The last of two inconsistent clauses prevails
s. 89
Will or bequest void for uncertainty
s. 90
Words describing subject refer to property answering description at testator’s death
s. 91
Power of appointment executed by general bequest
s. 92
Implied gift to objects of power in default of appointment
s. 93
Bequest to “heirs”, etc
s. 94
Bequest to “representatives”, etc
s. 95
Bequest without words of limitation
s. 96
Bequest in alternative
s. 97
Effect of words describing a class added to bequest to person
s. 98
Bequest to class of persons under general description only
s. 99
Construction of terms
s. 100
Words expressing relationship denote only legitimate relatives or failing such relatives reputed legitimate
s. 101
Rules of construction where will purports to make two bequests to same person
s. 102
Constitution of residuary legatee
s. 103
Property to which residuary legatee entitled
s. 104
Time of vesting legacy in general terms
s. 105
In what case legacy lapses
s. 106
Legacy does not lapse if one of two joint legatees die before testator
s. 107
Effect of words showing testator’s intention to give distinct shares
s. 108
When lapsed share goes as undisposed of
s. 109
When bequest to testator’s child or lineal descendant does not lapse on his death in testator’s lifetime
s. 110
Bequest to A for benefit of B does not lapse by A’s death
s. 111
Survivorship in case of bequest to described class
s. 112
Bequest to person by particular description, who is not in existence at testator’s death
s. 113
Bequest to person not in existence at testator’s death subject to prior bequest
s. 114
Rule against perpetuity
s. 115
Bequest to a class some of whom may come under rule in Section 113 and 114
s. 116
Bequest to take effect on failure of prior bequest
s. 119
Date of vesting of legacy when payment or possession postponed
s. 120
Date of vesting when legacy contingent upon specified uncertain event
s. 121
Vesting of interest in bequest to such members of a class as shall have attained particular age
s. 122
Onerous bequests
s. 123
One of two separate and independent bequests to same person may be accepted, and other refused
s. 124
Bequest contingent upon specified uncertain event, no time being mentioned for its occurrence
s. 125
Bequest to such of certain persons as shall be surviving at some period not specified
s. 126
Bequest upon impossible condition
s. 127
Bequest upon illegal or immoral condition
s. 128
Fulfilment of condition precedent to vesting of legacy
s. 129
Bequest to A and on failure of prior bequest to B
s. 130
When second bequest not to take effect on failure of first
s. 131
Bequest over conditional upon happening or not happening of specified uncertain event
s. 132
Condition must be strictly fulfilled
s. 133
Original bequest not affected by invalidity of second
s. 134
Bequest conditioned that it shall cease to have effect in case a specified uncertain event shall happen, or not happen
s. 135
Such condition must not be invalid under section 120
s. 136
Result of legatee rendering impossible or indefinitely postponing act for which no time specified, and on non-performance of which subject matter to go over
s. 137
Performance of condition, precedent or subsequent, within specified time
s. 138
Direction that fund be employed in particular manner following absolute bequest of same to or for benefit of any person
s. 139
Direction that mode of enjoyment of absolute bequest is to be restricted, to secure specified benefit for legatee
s. 140
Bequest of fund for certain purposes, some of which cannot be fulfilled
s. 141
Legatee named as executor cannot take unless he shows intention to act as executor
s. 142
Specific legacy defined
s. 143
Bequest of certain sum where stocks, etc
s. 144
Bequest of stock where testator had, at date of will, equal or greater amount of stock of same kind
s. 145
Bequest of money where not payable until part of testator’s property disposed of in certain way
s. 146
When enumerated articles not deemed specifically bequeathed
s. 147
Retention, in form of specific bequest to several persons in succession
s. 148
Sale and investment of proceeds of property bequeathed to two or more person in succession
s. 149
Where deficiency of assets to pay legacies, specific legacy not to abate with general legacies
s. 150
Demonstrative legacy defined
s. 151
Order of payment when legacy directed to be paid out of fund the subject of specific legacy
s. 152
Ademption explained
s. 153
Non- ademption of demonstrative legacy
s. 154
Ademption of specific bequest of right to receive something from third party
s. 155
Ademption pro tanto by testator’s receipt of part of entire thing specifically bequeathed
s. 156
Ademption pro tento by testator’s receipt of portion of entire fund of which portion has been specifically bequeathed
s. 157
Order of payment where portion of fund specifically bequeathed to one legatee, and legacy charged
s. 158
Ademption where stock, specifically bequeathed, does not exist at testator’s death
s. 159
Ademption pro tanto where stock, specifically bequeathed, exists in part only at testator’s death
s. 160
Non-ademption of specific bequest of goods described as connected with certain place, by reason of removal
s. 161
When removal of thing bequeathed does not constitute ademption
s. 162
When thing bequeathed is a valuable to be received by testator from third person; and testator himself, or his representative, receives it
s. 163
Change by operation of law of subject of specific bequest between date of will and testator’s death
s. 164
Change of subject without testator’s knowledge
s. 165
Stock specifically bequeathed lent to third party on condition that it be replaced
s. 166
Stock specifically bequeathed sold but replaced, and belonging to testator at his death
s. 167
Non-liability of executor to exonerate specific legatees
s. 168
Completion of testator’s title to things bequeathed to be at cost of his estate
s. 169
Exoneration of legatee’s immoveable property for which land-revenue or rent payable periodically
s. 170
Exoneration of specific legatee’s stock in joint-stock company
s. 171
Bequest of thing described in general terms
s. 172
Bequest of interest or produce of fund
s. 173
Annuity created by will payable for life only unless contrary intention appears by will
s. 175
Abatement of annuity
s. 176
Where gift of annuity and residuary gift, whole annuity to be first satisfied
s. 177
Creditor prima facie entitled to legacy as well as debt
s. 178
Child prima facie entitled to legacy as well as portion
s. 179
No ademption by subsequent provision for legatee
s. 180
Circumstances in which election takes place
s. 181
Devolution of interest relinquished by owner
s. 182
Testator’s belief as to his ownership immaterial
s. 183
Bequest for man’s benefit how regarded for purpose of election
s. 184
Person deriving benefit indirectly not put to election
s. 185
Person taking in individual capacity under will may in other character elect to take in opposition
s. 186
Exception to provisions of last six sections
s. 187
When acceptance of benefit given by will constitutes election to take under will
s. 188
Circumstances in which knowledge or waiver is presumed or inferred
s. 189
When testator’s representatives may call upon legatee to elect
s. 190
Postponement of election in case of disability
s. 191
Property transferable by gift made in contemplation of death
s. 192
Person claiming right by succession to property of deceased may apply for relief against wrongful possession
s. 193
Inquiry made by Judge
s. 194
Procedure
s. 195
Appointment of curator pending determination of proceeding
s. 196
Powers conferrable on curator
s. 197
Prohibition of exercise of certain powers by curators
s. 198
Curator to give security and may receive remuneration
s. 199
Report from Collector where estate includes revenue- paying land
s. 200
Institution and defence of suits
s. 201
Allowances to apparent owners pending custody by curator
s. 202
Accounts to be filed by curator
s. 203
Inspection of accounts and right of interested party to keep duplicate
s. 204
Bar to appointment of second curator for same property
s. 205
Limitation of time for application for curator
s. 206
Bar to enforcement of Part against public settlement or legal directions by deceased
s. 207
Court of Wards to be made curator in case of minors having property subject to its jurisdiction
s. 208
Saving of right to bring suit
s. 209
Effect of decision of summary proceeding
s. 210
Appointment of public curators
s. 211
Character and property of executor or administrator as such
s. 212
Right to intestate’s property
s. 213
Right as executor or legatee when established
s. 215
Effect on certificate of subsequent probate or letters of administration
s. 216
Grantee of probate or administration alone to sue, etc
s. 217
Application of Part
s. 218
To whom administration may be granted, where deceased is a Hindu, 1[Muslim], Buddhist/ Sikh, Jaina or exempted any person
s. 219
Where deceased is not a Hindu, 1[Muslim], Buddhist, Sikh, Jaina or exempted person
s. 220
Effect of letters of administration
s. 221
Acts not validated by administration
s. 222
Probate only to appointed executor
s. 223
Persons to whom probate cannot be granted
s. 224
Grant of probate to several executors simultaneously or at different times
s. 225
Separate probate of codicil discovered after grant of probate
s. 226
Accrual of representation to surviving executor
s. 227
Effect of probate
s. 228
Administration, with copy annexed, of authenticated copy of will proved abroad
s. 229
Grant of administration where executor has not renounced
s. 230
Form and effect of renunciation of executorship
s. 231
Procedure where executor renounces or fails to accept within time limited
s. 232
Grant of administration to universal or residuary legatees
s. 233
Right to administration of representative of deceased residuary legatee
s. 234
Grant of administration where no executor nor residuary legatee nor representative of such legatee
s. 235
Citation before grant of administration to legatee other than universal or residuary
s. 236
To whom administration may not be granted
s. 240
Administration until will produced
s. 241
Administration, with will annexed, to attorney of absent executor
s. 242
Administration, with will annexed, to attorney of absent person who, if present, would be entitled to administer
s. 243
Administration to attorney of absent person entitled to administer in case of intestacy
s. 244
Administration during minority of sole executor or residuary legatee
s. 245
Administration during minority of several executors or residuary legatees
s. 246
Administration for use and benefit of lunatic or minor
s. 247
Administration pendente lite
s. 248
Probate limited to purpose specified in will
s. 249
Administration, with will annexed, limited to particular purpose
s. 250
Administration limited to property in which person has beneficial interest
s. 251
Administration limited to suit
s. 252
Administration limited to purpose of becoming party to suit to be brought against administrator
s. 253
Administration limited to collection and preservation of deceased’s property
s. 254
Appointment as administrator, of person other than one who, in ordinary circumstances, would be entitled to administration
s. 255
Probate or administration, with will annexed, subject to exception
s. 256
Administration with exception
s. 257
Probate or administration of rest
s. 258
Grant of effects unadministered
s. 259
Rules as to grants of effects unadministered
s. 260
Administration when limited grant expired and still some part of estate unadministered
s. 261
What errors may be rectified by Court
s. 262
Procedure where codicil discovered after grant of administration with will annexed
s. 263
Revocation or annulment for just cause
s. 264
Jurisdiction of District Judge in granting and revoking probates, etc
s. 265
Power to appoint delegate of District Judge to deal with non-contentious cases
s. 266
District Judge’s powers as to grant of probate and administration
s. 267
District Judge may order person to produce testamentary papers
s. 268
Proceedings of District Judge’s Court in relation to probate and administration
s. 269
When and how District Judge to interfere for protection of property
s. 270
When probate or administration may be granted by District Judge
s. 271
Disposal of application made to Judge of district in which deceased had no fixed abode
s. 272
Probate and letters of administration may be granted by Delegate
s. 273
Conclusiveness of probate or letters of administration
s. 274
Transmission to High Courts of certificate of grants under proviso to section 273
s. 275
Conclusiveness of application for probate or administration if properly made and verified
s. 276
Petition for probate
s. 277
In what cases translation of will to be annexed to petition
s. 278
Petition for letters of administration
s. 279
Addition to statement in petition, etc
s. 280
Petition for probate, etc
s. 281
Verification of petition for probate by one witness to will
s. 282
Punishment for false averment in petition or declaration
s. 283
Powers of District Judge
s. 284
Caveats against grant of probate or administration
s. 285
After entry of caveat, no proceeding taken on petition until after notice to caveator
s. 286
District Delegate when not to grant probate or administration
s. 287
Power to transmit statement to District Judge in doubtful cases where no contention
s. 288
Procedure where there is contention or District Delegate thinks probate or letters of administration should be refused in his Court
s. 289
Grant of probate to be under seal of Court
s. 290
Grant of letters of administration to be under seal of Court
s. 291
Administration bond
s. 292
Assignment of administration bond
s. 293
Time for grant of probate and administration
s. 294
Filing of original wills of which probate or administration with will annexed granted
s. 295
Procedure in contentious cases
s. 296
Surrender of revoked probate or letters of administration
s. 297
Payment to executor or administrator before probate or administration revoked
s. 298
Power to refuse letters of administration
s. 299
Appeals from orders of District Judge
s. 300
Concurrent jurisdiction of High Court
s. 302
Directions to executor or administrator
s. 307
Power of executor or administrator to dispose of property
s. 308
General powers of administration
s. 309
Commission or agency charges
s. 310
Purchase by executor or administrator of deceased’s property
s. 311
Powers of several executors or administrators exercisable by one
s. 312
Survival of powers on death of one of several executors or administrators
s. 313
Powers of administrator of effects unadministered
s. 314
Powers of administrator during minority
s. 315
Powers of married executrix or administratrix
s. 316
As to deceased’s funeral
s. 317
Inventory and account
s. 318
Inventory to include property in any part of Pakistan in certain cases
s. 319
As to property of and debts owing to, deceased
s. 320
Expenses to be paid before all debts
s. 321
Expenses to be paid next after such expenses
s. 322
Wages for certain services to be next paid and then other debts
s. 323
Save as aforesaid, all debts to be paid equally and rateably
s. 324
Application of moveable property to payment of debts where domicile not in Pakistan
s. 325
Debts to be paid before legacies
s. 326
Executor or administrator not bound to pay legacies without indemnity
s. 327
Abatement of general legacies
s. 328
Non- abatement of specific legacy when assets sufficient to pay debts
s. 329
Right under demonstrative legacy when assets sufficient to pay debts and necessary expenses
s. 330
Rateable abatement of specific legacies
s. 331
Legacies treated as general for purpose of abatement
s. 332
Assent necessary to complete legatee’s title
s. 333
Effect of executor’s assent to specific legacy
s. 334
Conditional assent
s. 335
Assent of executor to his own legacy
s. 336
Effect of executor’s assent
s. 337
Executor when to deliver legacies
s. 338
Commencement of annuity when no time fixed by will
s. 339
When annuity, to be paid quarterly or monthly, first falls due
s. 340
Dates of successive payments when first payment directed to be made within a given time or on day certain: death of annuitant before date of payment
s. 341
Investment of sum bequeathed where legacy, not specific, given for life
s. 342
Investment of general legacy, to be paid at future time: disposal of intermediate interest
s. 343
Procedure when no fund charged with, or appropriated to annuity
s. 344
Transfer to residuary legatee of contingent bequest
s. 344
Transfer to residuary legatee of contingent bequest
s. 347
Time and manner of conversion and investment
s. 349
Legatee’s title to produce of specific legacy
s. 350
Residuary legatee’s title to produce of residuary fund
s. 351
Interest when no time fixed for payment of general legacy
s. 352
Interest when time fixed
s. 353
Rate of interest
s. 354
No interest on arrears of annuity within first year after testator’s death
s. 355
Interest on sum to be invested to produce annuity
s. 356
Refund of legacy paid under Court’s orders
s. 357
No refund if paid voluntarily
s. 358
Refund when legacy has become due on performance of condition within further time allowed under section 137
s. 359
When each legatee compellable to refund in proportion
s. 360
Distribution of assets
s. 361
Creditor may call upon legatee to refund
s. 363
When unsatisfied legatee must first proceed against executor, if solvent
s. 364
Limit to refunding of one legatee to another
s. 365
Refunding to be without interest
s. 366
Residue after usual payments to be paid to residuary legatee
s. 368
Liability of executor or administrator for devastation
s. 369
Liability of executor or administrator for neglect to get any part of property
s. 370
Restriction on grant of certificates under this Part
s. 371
Court having jurisdiction to grant certificate
s. 372
Application for certificate
s. 373
Procedure on application
s. 374
Contents of certificate
s. 375
Requisition of security from grantee of certificate
s. 376
Extension of certificate
s. 377
Forms of certificate and extended certificate
s. 378
Amendment of certificate in respect of powers as to securities
s. 379
Mode of collecting Court-fees on certificates
s. 380
Local extent of certificate
s. 381
Effect of certificate
s. 383
Revocation of certificate
s. 384
Appeal
s. 385
Effect on certificate of previous certificate, probate or letters of administration
s. 386
Validation of certain payments made in good faith to holder of invalid certificate
s. 387
Effect of decisions under this Act, and liability of holder of certificate thereunder
s. 389
Surrender of superseded and invalid certificates
s. 390
Provisions with respect to certificates under Bombay Regulation VIII of 1827
s. 391
Saving