Gold after death in India: SGB, demat, locker and jewellery
There is no single 'gold claim' process. First identify what the gold actually is and where it is held. A Sovereign Gold Bond, a gold ETF in demat, jewellery in a bank locker and physical gold kept elsewhere each follows a different route.
Official source: Reserve Bank of India: Frequently Asked Questions on the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme
Choose the route by the form of gold
- Sovereign Gold Bond in demat: contact the Depository Participant shown on the demat statement.
- Sovereign Gold Bond held by certificate: contact the bank, post office, SHCIL or other Receiving Office through which it was bought.
- Gold ETF or demat security: use the demat transmission route; it is not an RBI SGB certificate claim.
- Jewellery in a bank locker: ask the locker-providing bank for its deceased-locker procedure.
- Physical jewellery outside a locker: treat it as part of the estate; ownership or succession disputes may need legal advice.
Other products need their own provider
Digital gold, jeweller savings schemes, gold loans and gold mutual-fund folios are separate products. Contact the provider shown on the statement or agreement and do not use an SGB, demat or locker form for them.