Indian Property Law Glossary - Terms Explained

Indian property documentation mixes English legal terminology with Kannada, Marathi, Urdu and Persian revenue vocabulary inherited from successive administrations. A single transaction file can contain a sale deed, an RTC referencing kharab classification, a Form 9, an 11E sketch and a Khata extract - each from a different department with a different legal effect. This glossary defines each term, states what it does and does not prove, and links to the detailed guide.

All property law glossary guides

What Is Undivided Share of Land (UDS) and Why It Matters When Buying an Apartment

UDS is the proportionate, un-demarcated share of land that comes with your apartment; it determines your true ownership stake, redevelopment rights and resale value. A low or undisclosed UDS is a red

7 min read

Can NRIs Buy Property in India? Legal & Diligence Checklist for 2026

NRIs/OCIs can buy residential/commercial (not agricultural) property via NRE/NRO funds under FEMA, must verify RERA before booking, and can transact via a registered Specific PoA attested by the

12 min read

How a Property Passes to Heirs in Karnataka: Legal Heir Certificate vs Survivorship

If a Karnataka owner dies intestate, heirs use a legal heir/survivor certificate (revenue/Tahsildar or a civil-court succession petition) to mutate the property; agricultural land specifically needs

10 min read

What Is Guidance Value in Karnataka and How to Check It on Kaveri (2026 Revision)

Guidance value is the government's minimum registration value; check it free on kaveri.karnataka.gov.in via Guidance Value by district/SRO/locality. Stamp duty is charged on the higher of sale price

10 min read

Stamp Duty and Registration Charges in Karnataka 2026 (After the Aug 2025 Fee Hike)

Karnataka stamp duty is 2% below Rs 20L, 3% for Rs 21-45L and 5% above Rs 45L of guidance/sale value (whichever is higher), plus cess/surcharge; the registration fee rose from 1% to 2% on 31 Aug 2025,

8 min read

Gift Deed vs Will vs Release Deed vs Partition Deed: Which to Use for Family Property

A gift deed transfers ownership immediately and is largely irrevocable (concessional stamp duty for family); a Will takes effect only after death; a release deed relinquishes a co-owner's share; a

9 min read

What Is Adverse Possession in India — Can Someone Claim My Land After 12 Years?

Adverse possession lets an occupant gain ownership after open, continuous, hostile possession for 12 years (private) or 30 years (government) under the Limitation Act 1963. It's a real diligence risk

7 min read

Legal Heir Certificate vs Succession Certificate: Which Do You Need to Inherit Property?

A legal heir certificate (revenue/Tahsildar) establishes heirs for transferring immovable property and pensions; a succession certificate (civil court, Indian Succession Act) is for movable assets

9 min read

Do Daughters Have Equal Rights in Ancestral Property? Coparcenary & Heir Consent in Diligence

Yes — the Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act 2005, confirmed by Vineeta Sharma (2020), makes daughters coparceners by birth with the same rights as sons. So buying inherited/ancestral land needs every

7 min read

Occupancy Certificate (OC) vs Completion Certificate (CC): What's the Difference and Why It Matters

A Completion Certificate certifies the building was built per the approved plan; an Occupancy Certificate certifies it is safe and legal to occupy. Without an OC you can't legally move in, get

9 min read

Sale Deed vs Agreement to Sell vs Conveyance Deed vs Title Deed: The Difference

An agreement to sell is a promise to transfer in future; a sale deed is the registered instrument that actually transfers ownership; conveyance deed is the umbrella term

9 min read

Can an NRI Buy Agricultural Land in India? FEMA & RBI Rules for 2026

Under FEMA, NRIs/OCIs cannot buy agricultural land, plantations or farmhouses (only inherit or receive as gift); penalties run up to 3x value. NRIs CAN freely buy residential/commercial property via

7 min read

Mutation vs Title: Does Mutation (Khata Transfer / Dakhil Kharij) Prove Ownership?

No. Mutation (dakhil kharij / khata transfer) only updates revenue/tax records after a transfer; courts treat it as presumptive, not conclusive. Ownership passes solely through a registered sale deed

7 min read

Does Khata Prove Ownership? A-Khata vs B-Khata vs e-Khata in Bangalore Explained

Khata is a municipal tax/identity record, not title. A-Khata = fully BBMP-compliant (loan/plan eligible); B-Khata = irregular, hard to finance; e-Khata is the mandatory digital version. You can hold a

9 min read

Key terms

KhataMutationSale DeedAgreement to SellAdverse PossessionOccupancy Certificate (OC)Undivided Share of Land (UDS)Guidance ValueLegal Heir CertificateSuccession CertificateGift DeedWill

Frequently asked questions

What is a mother deed?
The mother deed is the earliest deed in the chain of title that establishes the origin of ownership, from which every later transfer descends. A title search traces forward from it to the present owner.

Automate the record-gathering

Deedwise pulls every record above from the relevant government portal, reconciles names across languages, builds the chain of title, and prepares an evidence-linked report for your lawyer to review and sign.

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