Will Matters in Valley

Inj amardkashin, avill dedisit just a paper, it'sthekeytopassingladaoprqrty snathytothenet gredion Butray faities can't knowhontonskeit count legally.

- Mohammad Amin Mir

and means everything in Kashmir. It's family history, livelihood, and legacy wrapped into one. So when someone passes away, the question often is: who gets the land next?

That answer lies in a document called a will deed. It's supposed to be straightforward. This piece of paper says who gets what when the owner is gone.

But making it work isn't always simple.

A will deed lets a person clearly spell out how their property—land, houses, even movable stuff—should be handed down after death. But not just any note scribbled on paper counts.

For a will to hold water legally in Jammu and Kashmir, it needs to meet certain conditions. The testator, the person writing the will, must be at least 18 and of sound mind.

The will must be voluntary, free of pressure or tricks, and signed in front of at least two witnesses who also sign it. Sounds formal? It is. Because any slip-up here can lead to long family fights or legal trouble.

One thing that confuses many is whether you have to register the will deed or not. Technically, no. The law doesn't demand registration for a will to be valid. But let me tell you, skipping this step can cause headaches.