LexNovaLegal Associates
NRI Legal Services in Chennai
Indian legal representation for non-resident Indians and foreign nationals with interests in Chennai and Tamil Nadu.
Non-resident clients face a particular problem: the matter is in India, the evidence is in India, and the hearings are in India — but they are not. Our NRI practice is built around that constraint. We handle property, succession, family and commercial matters on the ground in Chennai, with a Power of Attorney where appropriate, and report in writing so you are never guessing at the status.
This page is the starting point for NRI matters. Each area below links to the detailed service page. Our office is at No. 1 Karaneeswarar Koil Street, Saidapet, Chennai 600015, and we act for clients across Tamil Nadu and, on Indian-law matters, for clients based outside India.
What this covers
Indian legal representation for non-resident Indians and foreign nationals with interests in Chennai and Tamil Nadu.
NRI property matters
Title due diligence, purchase and sale, encumbrance checks, patta and revenue records, and action against encroachment or unauthorised occupation.
Inheritance and succession
Legal heir and succession certificates, probate, partition of ancestral property and settlement among family members.
Power of Attorney
Drafting, apostille or consular attestation guidance, registration in Tamil Nadu, and revocation.
NRI family matters
Matrimonial proceedings, maintenance, custody and mutual-consent divorce where one spouse is abroad.
Indian legal opinions
Written opinions on title, enforceability or regulatory position, for you, your bank or your overseas advisers.
Cross-border business
Foreign company setup in India, cross-border contracts and disputes with Indian counterparties.
Who we act for
- NRIs and OCI holders owning property in Chennai or Tamil Nadu
- Families dividing or inheriting ancestral property
- Non-residents facing encroachment, tenancy or fraudulent transfer issues
- Spouses in cross-border matrimonial or custody matters
- Foreign nationals and companies requiring Indian legal advice
How the engagement runs
Every matter is scoped and priced in writing before work begins.
1. Remote consultation
A video or telephone consultation scheduled to suit your time zone.
2. Document review
You send scans; we identify what is missing and what must be obtained from Indian records.
3. Authority to act
Where physical steps are needed, a Power of Attorney executed and attested where you live, then registered here.
4. Ground work
Searches, filings, appearances and negotiations conducted in Chennai on your behalf.
5. Written reporting
Regular written updates, with documents delivered digitally and originals held or couriered as instructed.
What to bring to the first consultation
Not every item is needed on day one — bring what you have, and we will tell you what else to obtain.
- Passport and OCI/visa page, and proof of overseas address
- Title deeds, encumbrance certificate and patta or revenue records for property matters
- Death certificate and family details for succession matters
- Marriage certificate and relevant orders for family matters
- Any existing Power of Attorney, and details of who holds the originals in India
Frequently asked questions
- Do I have to travel to Chennai for my matter?
- Often not. Most property, succession and commercial steps can be handled through a properly executed and registered Power of Attorney. Some family-law proceedings require personal appearance at particular stages, and we will tell you at the outset which those are.
- How is a Power of Attorney executed from abroad?
- It is usually signed before a notary in your country of residence and then apostilled — or attested by the Indian consulate where the country is not a Hague Convention signatory — before being stamped and registered in Tamil Nadu. We draft the document and set out the exact steps for your country.
- Can you check whether a property in Chennai has clear title before I buy?
- Yes. Title due diligence covers the chain of title, encumbrance certificate, revenue and patta records, approvals, and any pending litigation, and concludes in a written opinion.
- Someone has occupied my family property while I am abroad. What can be done?
- The route depends on how the occupation arose — tenancy, permissive possession or trespass. Remedies range from eviction proceedings to a suit for possession with injunction. The first step is a records check and a written assessment.
Related pages: International & cross-border services · Property lawyer in Chennai · Indian legal opinions for NRIs · Foreign company setup in India · Family & personal law
Discuss your matter with LexNova Legal Associates
Speak with a lawyer in Saidapet, Chennai. Consultations are available in person, by telephone, by video call or on WhatsApp, Monday to Saturday, 9.30 am to 6.30 pm IST.