We provide legal services in India for US citizens who need help with property disputes, documentation, inheritance or court matters. Our advocates manage legal procedures in India remotely, helping you avoid unnecessary travel while keeping US reporting obligations in mind.
- Document route
- Notary + state apostille, or consulate
- Time difference
- 9.5 to 13.5 hours behind IST
- US judgments in India
- Enforced by fresh suit
- Hague Apostille
- USA is a member
Common Legal Issues for US-Based NRIs
The Indian-origin population of the United States is spread across California, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Georgia and Washington state, with many maintaining property and family ties to India. An Inheritance Lawyer India for NRIs can help with succession matters when parents pass away, leaving houses or land jointly owned by siblings in different countries. Other common concerns include delayed possession of property booked in India, selling property to fund a home purchase in the US, and resolving ownership conflicts. An NRI Property Dispute Lawyer India can assist with property claims and disputes, while family matters that began in India may also continue in US courts.
Many clients are now US citizens holding OCI cards. Their rights over property and inheritance in India are essentially the same as those of an NRI on an Indian passport, a point covered under OCI legal issues .
US Documents Required for Use in India
You have two routes. The first is to sign before a notary public and obtain an apostille from the Secretary of State in the state where the notary is commissioned; in some states, county clerk certification is also required. India accepts apostilled documents under the Hague Convention. The second option is attestation through the Indian mission with jurisdiction over your state, usually applied for by post through its outsourced service provider. Missions generally require non-Indian passport holders to have documents notarized and apostilled as well. An NRI POA lawyer India can assist with preparing and reviewing your Power of Attorney, while Remote Legal Services in India for NRIs can help manage the documentation process from the USA.
Either way the original is couriered to India and, if it is a power of attorney or deed, stamped within three months of arrival. Details are in the attestation guide and under document attestation.
Services most requested from the USA
These six account for the majority of instructions we receive from clients in the United States.
Buying & Selling Property
Selling inherited or self-bought property without flying to India, with the TDS position settled first.
Power of Attorney for India
A special power of attorney drafted for the exact transaction, with state-specific apostille steps.
Succession Certificate & Inheritance
Claiming a parent's deposits, shares and property when heirs are in different countries.
Property Partition Suit
Separating your share when family in India will not sell or divide.
NRI Divorce
Mutual consent divorce in India, or advice on whether a US decree will be recognised.
TDS & Capital Gains on Property Sale
Lower deduction certificates and documents your US CPA needs for the foreign tax credit.
Tax and Money Transfers Between India and the USA
NRI property legal services in India can help US-based NRIs manage property sales and transfers, including related legal documentation. India taxes gains from property sales, while the USA may also tax the gain, with foreign tax credits potentially available. US persons may also need to report foreign accounts, gifts and inheritances. An Indian lawyer for NRI documentation can assist with property paperwork, while a US tax adviser can clarify reporting requirements and help avoid penalties.
We prepare the Indian documentation: sale deed, tax certificates and the chartered accountant's certificate needed to remit up to one million dollars a year. We do not advise on US tax law.
Court orders, Family Cases and Working hours
A Legal Heir Certificate India for NRI may be needed when establishing legal heirs for inheritance matters in India. The United States is not a reciprocating territory under Indian civil procedure, so enforcing a US money judgment in India generally requires a fresh suit. A US divorce decree may be recognized depending on whether both spouses participated and whether the grounds align with Indian law.
In custody disputes, the USA’s participation in the Hague Abduction Convention, unlike India’s, can affect legal strategy. An Indian lawyer for property dispute can help address property claims and related proceedings in India.
All services for NRIs in the USA
Every service below is available to clients living in the USA and is handled in India on your authority. Open any one for the law, documents and process.
Property & Real Estate
- NRI Property Dispute Resolution
- Property Partition Suit
- Title Verification & Due Diligence
- Power of Attorney for India
- Illegal Possession & Encroachment
- Builder Fraud & RERA Complaints
- Buying & Selling Property
- Property Transfer & Mutation
- Landlord-Tenant & Eviction
- Adverse Possession Defence
Inheritance, Wills & Documents
Family, Marriage & OCI
- NRI Divorce
- Child Custody & Guardianship
- Maintenance & Alimony
- Domestic Violence Cases
- Adoption from India
- Marriage Registration
- OCI Card Legal Issues
- Parents & Senior Citizen Rights
Tax, Banking & FEMA
- Income Tax Notices & Appeals
- TDS & Capital Gains on Property Sale
- Repatriation of Funds
- Shares Transmission & IEPF Recovery
- FEMA Compliance & RBI Notices
Business & Corporate
Criminal Defence & Recovery
- FIR Quashing & Bail
- Cheque Bounce & Money Recovery
- Fraud & Cybercrime Recovery
- Look Out Circular & Extradition
Claims & Compensation
Indian missions in the United States
Consular jurisdiction is by state of residence. Check the mission's website for the current list of states and for newly opened consulates before applying.
- Embassy of India, Washington DC
- Consulate General, New York
- Consulate General, San Francisco
- Consulate General, Chicago
- Consulate General, Houston
- Consulate General, Atlanta
- Consulate General, Seattle
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my property in India while living in the USA?
Yes. You authorise a relative or advocate through a special power of attorney, apostilled or consulate-attested in the US and stamped in India, and they sign and register the sale deed for you.
Is a power of attorney notarised in the USA valid in India?
It should carry an apostille from the Secretary of State or attestation by the Indian consulate. A bare notarisation is commonly refused by Sub-Registrars and banks.
Do I have to report an inheritance from India to the IRS?
US persons generally must report foreign inheritances above one hundred thousand dollars on Form 3520 and report the resulting foreign accounts. This is a reporting duty, not a tax on the inheritance. Confirm with a US tax professional.
Is a US divorce valid in India?
It is recognised where both spouses participated and the ground is available under the Indian law governing the marriage, most safely by mutual consent. Otherwise a declaratory or fresh proceeding in India may be advisable before remarrying.
Can a US citizen of Indian origin inherit agricultural land in India?
Yes. Inheritance is permitted. What is restricted is purchase of agricultural land, and any later transfer must be to a resident Indian citizen.
What time are consultations held for clients in the USA?
Usually between 6 am and 9 am or 7 pm and 11 pm Eastern time, with equivalent slots for Central and Pacific time, which fall within our working day in India.
Can my parents in India act for me under a power of attorney?
Yes. Parents are the most common attorney holders. The document should be limited to the specific task and apostilled or consulate-attested before it is sent.