Dealing With Government IDs After Death: A Step-By-Step Guide for Families
When a loved one passes away, families not only deal with emotional loss but also the responsibility of managing the deceased person’s official documents—such as Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, and others. Although there are no legal penalties for keeping these documents post-death, they can be misused if not properly handled.
Here’s a guide to help families manage these critical government-issued IDs after the death of an individual:
1. Aadhaar Card
Aadhaar is linked to various services such as LPG subsidies, pensions, and EPF accounts. As of now, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) does not offer a deactivation process for the Aadhaar of deceased individuals.
What You Can Do:
- Lock the Aadhaar biometrics of the deceased on the UIDAI website to prevent misuse.
- Secure any linked services and notify respective institutions.
2. PAN Card
The PAN card is crucial for banking, demat accounts, and tax-related matters. It must be retained until all financial matters and tax returns are resolved.
Steps to Surrender:
- Write to the Assessing Officer (AO) of the Income Tax Department.
- Include the deceased’s PAN number, name, date of birth, and a copy of the death certificate.
- After settling tax filings and account closures, the PAN can be surrendered.
3. Voter ID
To prevent the deceased’s name from appearing on electoral rolls, the voter ID must be canceled.
How to Cancel:
- Fill Form 7 under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960.
- Submit the form and a copy of the death certificate to the local election office.
- The name will be officially removed from the voter list.
4. Passport
There’s no mandatory requirement to surrender a passport after death. It automatically becomes invalid after expiration.
Optional:
- Family members may return it to the Passport Office as a good practice.
- It can help prevent identity misuse or forgery.
5. Driving License
Driving licenses are handled at the state level and rules may vary.
Recommendations:
- Contact the respective Regional Transport Office (RTO) to inquire about cancellation.
- If a vehicle transfer is needed, follow state-specific rules for ownership transfer.
✅ Final Word:
While it’s not legally required to surrender many of these documents immediately, doing so helps prevent fraud and ensures a cleaner legal and financial closure. Families should secure these IDs and complete formalities with relevant authorities at the earliest.
