Skip to content

No power of attorney. Ever.

✅ Free tool

NRI property documents checklist — what to keep and why

This checklist lists the documents that prove and protect your land in India — from the sale deed and mutation entry to tax receipts and identity copies. Tick what you have; your progress is saved in this browser, and you can print it for a family meeting or a lawyer.

Free · No sign-up · Runs privately in your browser

0 of 16 in your file · 0%

Proof of ownership
Revenue records
Payments & encumbrances
You & your representatives

Your ticks are saved only in this browser — nothing is sent to us. Keep scans in a secure cloud folder your family can reach in an emergency.

How to use it

  1. Go through the list and tick each document you already have a copy of.
  2. Note what’s missing — the unticked items are your to-do list.
  3. Print the checklist or come back later; your ticks stay saved in this browser.
  4. Scan everything you have and keep copies in two places, one outside India.

Which documents prove ownership of land in India?

The title document comes first: a registered sale deed, gift deed, partition deed, or a will or succession papers for inherited land. It shows how the land came to you.

Supporting it are the mutation entry (intkal, dakhil-kharij or ferfar) and the latest record of rights — fard or jamabandi, 7/12 extract, khatauni or patta depending on the state. Mutation is not proof of title by itself, but a record that matches your deed is strong support.

The full checklist, and why each item matters

Title deed or sale deed; mutation entry; latest record of rights copy; encumbrance certificate (shows registered loans or transactions); property tax receipts; approved layout or building plan for plots and houses; electricity and water bills; survey or demarcation report; will or succession documents; copies of any power of attorney you’ve given; lease agreements with tenants; and identity copies (passport, OCI card, PAN).

Tax receipts, bills and leases quietly prove you’ve been treating the land as yours — useful if anyone later claims you abandoned it. A signed lease also shows that a tenant’s possession is with your permission.

How should NRIs store property documents?

Keep originals in a safe place in India or with you, and never hand them to a caretaker or agent. Scan everything in colour, name files clearly (for example ‘2026-03 fard khasra 123.pdf’) and keep one copy in cloud storage you control.

Update the record of rights copy and encumbrance certificate every year or two — they’re the documents most likely to reveal an unexpected change.

What if some documents are missing?

Don’t worry — most can be recovered. Certified copies of registered deeds are available from the sub-registrar’s office where the deed was registered, and record of rights copies can usually be downloaded from the state portal or obtained from the tehsil.

For inherited land, the gap is often the mutation after a parent’s death. If the record still shows a late relative’s name, speak to a local property lawyer about completing the succession mutation, as it becomes harder the longer it waits.

Questions people ask

Mainly a registered title document (such as a sale deed, gift deed or inheritance papers), a matching mutation entry and a current record of rights. An encumbrance certificate, tax receipts and a survey map strengthen your position.

It is a certificate from the sub-registrar’s office listing registered transactions on a property, such as sales or mortgages, over a chosen period. It helps show whether the land is free of registered claims.

In your own browser on this device. It isn’t sent to us, so it won’t appear on another device, and clearing your browser data will reset it. Print it if you want a permanent copy.

It is safer not to. Share copies, keep originals secure, and give any representative only the specific documents a task needs.

Related tools

Land Record Finder

Pick a state: record name, parcel ID, official portal and mutation term.

Use free tool

Power of Attorney Builder

Pick your tasks → special or general POA, scope, time limit and safeguards.

Use free tool

Land Risk Check

Four questions to see how exposed your land is — and what to do about it.

Use free tool

Helpful guides

📜 Land records explained 7 min read

Khasra, Khatauni, Jamabandi, 7/12: Land Records Decoded

Khasra, khatauni, jamabandi, 7/12, patta, khatian: what your Indian land record is called in each state, where to find it online and which number matters.

Ready to see your land for yourself?

Tell us the village or drop a pin — it takes about two minutes. We confirm the boundary with you before your first report.

Protect my land From $15/month · No power of attorney