Nominee vs legal heir: Who gets your bank fixed deposits, PPF and mutual funds if you die without a will?

When you open a bank fixed deposit, invest in mutual funds, or put money in small savings schemes like the Public Provident Fund (PPF), you are typically asked to nominate a person to receive the funds in the event of your death.

This helps banks and financial institutions identify whom to approach for settling the investment. However, many investors assume that nominating someone automatically makes them the legal owner of the money after their death.

A nominee only acts as a custodian of the assets, which may include mutual funds, PPF corpus or fixed deposit money, until they are transferred to the rightful legal heirs. Such a person has no ownership rights over these assets unless they are also a legal heir, such as the deceased investor’s spouse, children or parents.

The purpose of having a nominee is to facilitate the smooth settlement and transfer of assets after the account holder's death.

You can designate a trusted and eligible person as a nominee for your assets, such as your spouse, sibling, or other family member or relative.

It is also important to review and update nominations after major life events, such as marriage, divorce, the death of a nominee, or the birth or adoption of a child, to ensure that your nominations reflect your wishes.

The final ownership of money in a bank account, mutual fund, or other assets is determined by a valid will, succession laws, and the rights of legal heirs, not merely by the nominee mentioned in the account.

If the deceased has left a legally valid will, the assets are distributed according to it. In the absence of a will, the applicable inheritance or succession laws decide who has the rightful claim over the money and property.

Earlier, obtaining probate of a will was mandatory for inheritance involving assets in certain cities across India. It is a legal process by which a civil court verifies the authenticity of a will and authorises the executor named in it to administer the deceased's estate.

However, following a legal change in 2025, probate is no longer mandatory in these cases. It can still be obtained voluntarily, particularly when family disputes are anticipated, multiple executors or beneficiaries are involved, or the estate includes institutional, banking or cross-border assets.

PPF accounts shall be closed upon the investor's death, and the nominee or legal heir can claim the balance in the account by submitting the prescribed documents to the bank or post office.

Once the claims process is complete, the entire eligible balance is paid to the nominee or legal heir, and the account is permanently closed.

For mutual funds, a legal heir or nominee must submit a transmission request to the asset management company or its registrar, which typically processes it based on a standard set of documents.

If a nominee or legal heir wants to claim the proceeds of a bank fixed deposit after the account holder’s death, the process is pretty similar to that of mutual funds. They must submit a claim to the specified bank along with the death certificate and other required documents.

A comprehensive estate plan usually includes several legal documents that clearly state a person's wishes and specify how their assets should be distributed among family members upon their death.

While not every component is necessary for everyone, the following documents may be included, depending on your financial situation and needs:

• Will: A legal document that states how your assets should be distributed and, if applicable, names guardians for minor children. This is the most common way of dividing assets and must be considered.
• Trusts: Helps in managing assets, reducing estate taxes in some cases, and avoiding probate (the legal process of transferring assets after death).
• Beneficiary designations: Ensure assets such as life insurance, retirement investments such as PPF, and other assets are directly transferred to a named beneficiary without going through probate.

A well-prepared estate plan ensures the original owner's wishes are honoured, minimises the risk of disputes among legal heirs in the later stage, and provides clarity during an emotionally difficult time. It is typically prepared with the assistance of an estate planning lawyer.

Eshita Gain is a digital journalist at Mint, where she joined in May 2025. She writes on corporate developments, personal finance, markets, and business trends, with a focus on delivering timely and relevant stories to a broad audience. <br><br> While her core beat lies in business and finance, she is not confined to a single niche and frequently explores stories across domains, including international relations and policy developments. <br><br> She holds a postgraduate diploma in business and financial journalism by Bloomberg from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. During her time there, she received rigorous training in tracking financial data, interpreting corporate filings, and reporting on business developments. She has pursued her graduation from St. Joseph’s University, Bengaluru in a multi-disciplinary course. Her majors included Journalism, International Relations, peace and conflict studies. <br><br> Eshita has previously worked in digital marketing, which enables her to write SEO friendly copies that are clear and engaging. <br><br> Her primary interest lies in breaking down complex subjects and writing clear, accessible copies that inform readers. She aims to bridge the gap between technical financial language and everyday understanding. Outside the newsroom, Eshita enjoys reading non-fiction, and exploring new places, constantly seeking fresh perspectives and stories beyond headlines.

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