By Karun Reji, Chartered Accountant (India), BI-Outsource, Kochi. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
Short answer: Christians in Kerala follow the Indian Succession Act, 1925. If there is no will, the spouse takes one-third and the children share two-thirds equally, sons and daughters alike.
Why the Indian Succession Act applies in Kerala
Older Travancore and Cochin Christian succession laws gave daughters much less. In Mary Roy v State of Kerala (1986), the Supreme Court held that the Indian Succession Act applies to Christians in the former Travancore area, giving daughters equal shares.
Who inherits
| Family left behind | Spouse | Others |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse and children | 1/3 | Children share 2/3 equally |
| Children only | — | Children share everything equally |
| Spouse, no children, father alive | 1/2 | Father takes 1/2 |
| Spouse, no children, father not alive | 1/2 | Mother, brothers and sisters share 1/2 |
Worked example
Thomas leaves property worth ₹3 crore, a wife and three children. His wife gets ₹1 crore and each child gets about ₹66.7 lakh.
Planning points for Kerala Christian families
- A will lets you leave more to a spouse, or keep the family business with one child.
- Property in the Gulf or abroad may follow that country's rules; plan it separately.
- Keep nominations on bank, demat and insurance accounts current, but remember nominees often hold the money for the legal heirs.
See your own family's shares in 3 minutes: try our free succession planner, or talk to BI Family Office about a will, trust and succession plan.
