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Hindu Succession Act 1956 & Amendment 2005 · Free Legal Tool

Hindu Succession
Share Calculator

⚖️  Sections 6 · 8 · 10 · 15 · 16 · Schedule Class I & II

Compute intestate succession shares for Hindu male and female deceased — self-acquired and coparcenary property, pre-deceased branches, and multiple heirs. Incorporates Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020) 9 SCC 1 and all landmark Supreme Court judgments on daughters' equal rights in property.

§6 Coparcenary §8 Male Intestate §10 Class I Rules §15–16 Female Intestate 2005 Amendment Vineeta Sharma 2020 Arunachala Gounder 2022 Angadi Chandranna 2025
⚖ SC Judgments   Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020) 9 SCC 1: Daughter's coparcenary rights by birth; father's survival on 9.9.2005 not required  ·  Arunachala Gounder v. Ponnusamy (2022) 11 SCC 520: Daughter inherits father's self-acquired property equally with sons  ·  Angadi Chandranna v. Shankar (April 2025): Post-partition share becomes self-acquired; alienable without co-heir consent  ·  Kamla Neti v. LAO (2023) 3 SCC 528: Tribal women entitled to equal share; customary silence cannot defeat rights  ·  Ram Charan v. Sukhram (2025) SC 1465: S.14(1) absolute ownership requires actual possession by the widow  ·  ⚖ SC Judgments   Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020) 9 SCC 1: Daughter's coparcenary rights by birth; father's survival on 9.9.2005 not required  ·  Arunachala Gounder v. Ponnusamy (2022) 11 SCC 520: Daughter inherits father's self-acquired property equally with sons  ·  Angadi Chandranna v. Shankar (April 2025): Post-partition share becomes self-acquired; alienable without co-heir consent  ·  Kamla Neti v. LAO (2023) 3 SCC 528: Tribal women entitled to equal share; customary silence cannot defeat rights  ·  Ram Charan v. Sukhram (2025) SC 1465: S.14(1) absolute ownership requires actual possession by the widow  · 
Intestate Succession Tool

Calculate Succession Shares

Enter the details of the deceased and surviving heirs. The tool applies the correct provisions of the Hindu Succession Act 1956 and computes each heir's fractional and percentage share.

Succession Details
Deceased Person
⚠ A registered partition deed executed before 20 December 2004 can defeat a daughter's coparcenary claim under the S.6 proviso — please verify with an advocate.
Class I Heirs — S.8, S.10
Widow(s)
Wife / wives of deceased
0
Mother
Alive at time of death
0
Sons (surviving)
Living sons at time of death
0
Daughters (surviving)
Equal rights as sons — S.6 (2005), Vineeta Sharma
0
Pre-deceased Branches — S.10 Rule 3
Pre-deceased Sons
Each branch takes 1 equal share — distributed within branch
0
Pre-deceased Daughters
Each branch takes 1 equal share — S.10 Rule 3(ii)
0
Optional
Key Supreme Court Judgments
Landmark · 2020
Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma
(2020) 9 SCC 1  ·  3-Judge Bench  ·  11 August 2020

Settled conflicting interpretations on daughters' coparcenary rights. Daughters acquire rights by birth — the father need not have been alive on 9.9.2005. Overruled Prakash v. Phulavati (2016).

✦ All living daughters are coparceners from 9 September 2005 irrespective of when they were born or whether the father survived that date.
2022
Arunachala Gounder v. Ponnusamy
(2022) 11 SCC 520  ·  Supreme Court

Even where a Hindu male died before the 2005 amendment leaving self-acquired property, the daughter inherits equally as a Class I heir under S.8 — independent of coparcenary status.

✦ Daughter's right to father's self-acquired property flows from Class I heirship under S.8, not coparcenary status alone.
April 2025
Angadi Chandranna v. Shankar
Civil Appeal  ·  Supreme Court  ·  April 2025

Once a Mitakshara joint family estate is formally partitioned, each allottee's portion becomes self-acquired property. The allottee can sell or transfer without consent of other ex-coparceners.

✦ Post-partition share = self-acquired. Prior consent of siblings not required for alienation.
2023
Kamla Neti v. LAO
(2023) 3 SCC 528  ·  Supreme Court

Tribal women cannot be denied an equal share in ancestral property when the same right is available to non-tribal women under the HSA. Absence of express custom cannot justify gender discrimination.

✦ Constitutional equality (Art. 14 & 15) prevails over customary silence or tribal custom.
2025
Ram Charan v. Sukhram
2025 SC 1465  ·  Supreme Court

Reaffirmed gender equality in tribal succession. S.14(1) absolute ownership requires the widow to hold actual possession of the property — a bare declaration without possession is insufficient.

✦ S.14(1): possession + limited estate = conversion to full ownership. Declaration alone does not suffice.
Quick Law Reference
Succession Rules at a Glance
Male Intestate — S.8 + S.10

Class I heirs take simultaneously. Widow(s) together = 1 share. Each surviving son, daughter and mother = 1 share each. Pre-deceased son/daughter branch = 1 share shared per stirpes within that branch.

Coparcenary — S.6 (Post-2005)

Daughters are coparceners by birth. On death, notional partition occurs. Deceased's share devolves on Class I heirs. Registered partition before 20.12.2004 saves prior partition from daughters' claims.

Female Intestate — S.15–16

(1st) Sons, daughters & husband equally; (2nd) Husband's heirs; (3rd) Mother & father; (4th) Father's heirs; (5th) Mother's heirs. S.15(2): Property from father → father's heirs if no issue. From husband → husband's heirs if no issue.

Class II (No Class I)

Father → siblings & their children → grandparents → aunts/uncles → further entries. Each entry excludes the next. Consult an advocate for Class II and beyond — distribution is case-specific.

Daughter's Rights
Equal coparcenary rights by birth from 9.9.2005 — marital status does not extinguish these rights
Multiple Widows
All widows together take only one share under S.10 Rule 1 — divided equally between them
Pre-deceased Branch
The branch of a pre-deceased heir takes per stirpes the share the deceased would have received
S.15(2) Exception
Inherited property reverts to the source family when the female Hindu dies without surviving issue
Need Expert Legal Advice?
Succession · Partition · Heirship

Succession certificates, letters of administration, partition suits, property mutation, will drafting — Dhende Associates handles all succession matters before Pune courts and the Bombay High Court.

Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hindu Succession Act 1956?

The Hindu Succession Act 1956 is a comprehensive law that governs inheritance and succession of property for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs in India. It provides a clear succession order for intestate (without a will) succession and establishes the rights of various heirs. The 2005 amendment gave daughters the same coparcenary rights as sons in ancestral property.

Do daughters have equal succession rights as sons?

Yes. After the 2005 amendment to the Hindu Succession Act, daughters have equal coparcenary rights in ancestral property. The 2020 Supreme Court judgment in Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma confirmed that daughters acquire coparcenary rights by birth from 9 September 2005, regardless of when they were born or the father's survival. Daughters also inherit equally with sons in self-acquired property.

What is the difference between ancestral and self-acquired property?

Ancestral property is inherited by the current owner from their ancestors (typically up to 4 generations back). Self-acquired property is property earned, purchased, or received as a gift by the individual during their lifetime. The succession rules differ significantly. In ancestral property, all Class I heirs (including daughters) are coparceners. In self-acquired property, heirs inherit according to specific succession rules under Sections 8-16 of the HSA.

What happens if someone dies without a will (intestate succession)?

When someone dies without a will, their property passes to heirs according to the Hindu Succession Act 1956. The succession follows a strict priority order called the "Succession Schedule." Class I heirs (closest relatives) take priority over Class II and Class III heirs. The tool on this page helps you calculate exact shares for Class I and Class II succession scenarios.

What is coparcenary?

Coparcenary is a joint ownership status in ancestral property held by lineal male descendants (now including daughters post-2005). A coparcener has a right by birth to ancestral property and can demand partition. Before the 2005 amendment, only males had coparcenary rights. Now daughters are also coparceners by birth and have equal rights with sons.

Who are Class I heirs?

Class I heirs are the closest relatives of the deceased and take priority in succession. For a male Hindu, Class I heirs include widow(s), sons, daughters, mother, and children of pre-deceased sons or daughters. For a female Hindu, Class I heirs include husband, sons, daughters, and children of pre-deceased sons or daughters. All Class I heirs inherit simultaneously and equally (except widow who shares with others).

What does the Vineeta Sharma judgment (2020) say?

Vineeta Sharma v. Rakesh Sharma (2020) is a landmark Supreme Court judgment that settled the law on daughters' coparcenary rights. It held that daughters acquire coparcenary rights by birth from 9 September 2005, and that the father's survival on that date is not a requirement. This overruled conflicting earlier judgments and gave daughters absolute equality with sons in ancestral property.

Can I use this calculator for legal purposes or court proceedings?

This calculator is an informational tool and should not be relied upon as definitive legal advice. Succession matters are complex and depend on specific facts, circumstances, and jurisdictional nuances. We strongly recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer (advocate) for formal legal opinions, succession certificates, or court proceedings. Dhende Associates can provide expert guidance on succession matters.

How do I get a succession certificate?

A succession certificate is a legal document issued by a court that identifies legal heirs and grants them power to collect and realize the movable property (like bank accounts, insurance) of a deceased person. It's obtained through a succession petition filed before the District Court. An advocate's help is crucial for this process. Once you've calculated shares using this tool, you can contact us for assistance in obtaining a succession certificate.