01Who needs a will or probate lawyer in Pune
Probate is a court order certifying a will and the executor's authority to act on it. In Maharashtra, probate is compulsory for wills relating to immovable property within the ordinary civil jurisdiction of the Bombay, Calcutta and Madras High Courts, and is commonly obtained elsewhere to make title marketable. An uncontested petition typically takes six months to two years.
Two questions decide the route. Is there a valid will, and is what it deals with something that needs a court's certification at all? A great deal of property passes without any petition — nominations, jointly held accounts, and assets covered by a clear registered document. We tell you at the first meeting which of your assets need probate, which need only a succession certificate, and which need nothing.
Will drafting
Wills drafted to survive challenge — clear bequests, proper attestation, and where advisable, medical evidence of capacity.
How it worksProbate petitions
Petitions to certify a will and the executor's authority, including citations and dealing with objections.
How it worksSuccession certificates
For debts and securities where there is no will, enabling banks and companies to transfer assets lawfully.
How it worksLetters of administration
Where a person dies without a will, or the will names no executor who is able to act.
How it works02How probate and succession proceed in Pune
A probate or succession matter in Pune usually follows this sequence:
Assessment of the estate
What assets exist, how each is held, and which of them actually require a court order. Often fewer than the family expects.
Week 1Petition & valuation
The petition is prepared with the schedule of assets and their valuation, which determines the court fee payable.
2–5 weeksCitations & objections
The court issues citations to heirs and the public. If nobody objects the matter proceeds uncontested; if someone does, it converts to a testamentary suit.
2–6 monthsGrant
Probate or letters of administration are granted, and the executor or administrator can then deal with the estate.
On disposal03Documents required for probate
Checklist — Probate & Succession
- Original will, if one exists
- Death certificate of the deceased
- Proof of relationship of all legal heirs
- Schedule of assets — property documents, bank statements, share certificates
- Valuation of immovable property
- Identity and address proof of the executor or petitioner
- Details and addresses of all heirs, for citations
04How long probate takes in Pune
An uncontested probate petition in Pune commonly takes six months to two years, most of which is the citation period and the court's board rather than argument. Where an heir objects, the petition converts to a testamentary suit and can take three to five years. A succession certificate for bank balances and securities is generally faster. Will drafting itself takes days, not months — which is the strongest argument for doing it in time.
05Common mistakes in wills and succession
- Not making a will at allIntestate succession divides the estate by statute rather than by intention, and it is the most common origin of the partition suits we run.
- A will written without attestationA will must be signed by the testator and attested by two witnesses who saw the signature. Getting this wrong invalidates an otherwise clear document.
- Making a beneficiary a witnessIt puts the bequest at risk and is entirely avoidable. Use independent witnesses, and where capacity may be questioned, a doctor as one of them.
- Assuming a nominee is an ownerA nomination determines who the bank or society pays, not who inherits. Nominees hold for the legal heirs unless the law says otherwise.
06Will and probate lawyer fees in Pune
Every engagement begins with a written understanding of the fee structure — consultation, drafting, appearances — before any work starts. We will tell you plainly at the first meeting what your matter involves, and you will never see a charge we did not explain.
What happens at your first consultation
- You talk, we listen. Bring whatever papers you have, organised or not. There is no form to fill and nothing to prepare.
- We tell you where you stand — including the weaknesses in your position. An advocate who only tells you good news is not advising you.
- You get options, not pressure. Sometimes the honest answer is that you do not need to file anything yet.
- Fees in writing before any work begins, so no invoice ever surprises you.
Everything you say is privileged, whether or not you engage the firm. Consultations are held in Marathi, Hindi or English — in person at Kasba Peth, or over video.
Adv. Indrajit Dongre
Leads this practice, appearing before Pune's courts since 1998. Succession matters are handled by Adv. Indrajit Dongre with the firm's civil team.