---
title: "Surat Keterangan Waris: Who Makes It and When You Need It"
description: "A surat keterangan waris (heirship statement) names the legal heirs. The forms it takes, who makes it, what it contains, and when a bank or the land office asks for it."
url: "https://vorneo.id/zh/artikel/surat-keterangan-waris/"
lang: "zh"
image: "https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1606242403120-0d1997a32486?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1280&q=70"
---

# Surat Keterangan Waris: Who Makes It and When You Need It

Vorneo Property · [法律与文件](https://vorneo.id/zh/artikel/topik/legalitas/) · 2026-11-06

A parent has died, the house certificate is still in their name, and the family has to transfer it or sell. At this point nearly everyone asks for the same document: the surat keterangan waris.

Many families are confused because this document has no single standard form. Some get it at the kelurahan, some at a notary, some end up in court. This article explains the options, what goes in the document, and when each one is used.

The transfer steps that follow are covered in the [guide to transferring an inherited certificate](/en/artikel/balik-nama-sertifikat-warisan/). If the goal is to sell, read [selling inherited land](/en/artikel/menjual-tanah-warisan/) too.

## What a surat keterangan waris is for

The document states who the heirs of a deceased person are. It doesn't divide the estate, and it doesn't decide who gets what. It answers one question: who is entitled.

Without it, the Kantor Pertanahan doesn't know whose name to record on the certificate, and a bank doesn't know who may withdraw the deceased's savings. A PPAT also can't draw up a valid sale deed if it is unclear who the sellers are.

The division itself is handled separately, through a family agreement, the inheritance law the family follows (Islamic law or civil law, for example), or a court ruling.

## The forms it takes

After the land registration rules were amended by Ministerial Regulation ATR/BPN 16/2021, proof of heirship is no longer split by population group. The proofs accepted for land registration include:

- A **will** from the deceased.
- A **court ruling.**
- A **determination by a judge or the court chair.**
- A **surat pernyataan ahli waris** (heirs' statement) made by the heirs themselves, witnessed by two people, then confirmed by the lurah or village head and the camat where the deceased lived at death.
- A **notarial deed of inheritance rights** (akta keterangan hak mewaris), made in the area where the deceased lived.
- A **surat keterangan waris from the Balai Harta Peninggalan.**

Older articles, and practice in many places, still split the forms by family background: a kelurahan letter for some, a notarial deed for families of Chinese descent, and the Balai Harta Peninggalan for other Foreign Orientals. That habit hasn't gone away, especially at banks and notary offices. So don't be surprised if the institution you visit asks for a particular form. Ask first, then make the letter.

## Who makes it and where

**The heirs, confirmed by the lurah and camat.** This is the cheapest form and the one most often used for land transfers. The heirs draft the statement, two witnesses sign, then the lurah or village head and the camat acknowledge it. Because the heirs make it themselves, its strength depends on how honest the contents are and whether the receiver considers it enough.

**A notary.** The notary draws up an akta keterangan hak mewaris from the documents and statements of the heirs. It costs more, but the deed is authentic, and banks and PPATs usually accept it without many questions. A notary's fee follows the rules of the office and what you agree on, so ask for a breakdown first.

**The Balai Harta Peninggalan.** An agency under the Ministry of Law that is authorised to issue heirship letters for certain groups. It has offices in only a few cities, so for a family in Kalimantan the process can mean a long trip.

**The court.** A determination of heirs is asked from the Pengadilan Agama for Muslims, or the Pengadilan Negeri for others. This route is used when there is a dispute, an heir has lost contact, or an institution refuses another form. It is the slowest and most expensive.

## What it usually contains

Whatever the form, the letter carries much the same things:

- the identity of the deceased, when and where they died, and their last address;
- the name, date of birth, address and family relationship of every heir;
- a statement that there are no other heirs;
- the relationship with the deceased's spouse, including children from an earlier marriage;
- whether a will exists.

The statement "there are no other heirs" is the one that causes the most trouble. Children from a first marriage, adopted children, or children living far away are often left out. If someone turns up later, the division can be challenged, and a sale that was already signed gets pulled into the dispute.

## Documents to prepare

To make the letter, prepare:

1. the death certificate of the deceased;
2. the Kartu Keluarga (family card) of the deceased and the heirs;
3. the KTP (ID card) of all heirs;
4. the marriage book of the deceased, if there was a spouse;
5. the will, if one was made;
6. the certificate and the latest Pajak Bumi dan Bangunan (PBB, land and building tax) receipt, for land matters.

If the death certificate doesn't exist yet, get it first from the Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil (civil registry). Some institutions don't accept a kelurahan letter in its place.

## When you need it

- **Transferring a certificate** from the deceased to the heirs at the Kantor Pertanahan.
- **Selling inherited land or a house.** The PPAT asks for it and draws up the deed with all heirs as sellers.
- **Withdrawing savings or a deposit** of the deceased at a bank.
- **Making an insurance or pension claim**, depending on the provider's rules.
- **Transferring a vehicle.** Changing a vehicle's name because of inheritance also asks for proof of heirship.
- **Settling or transferring a loan.** If the deceased left a KPR (home loan), the bank usually asks for this letter before it talks to the heirs. See [how to take over a KPR](/en/artikel/cara-take-over-kpr/) if an heir wants to keep paying the installments.

## Common mistakes

- **Signing without reading.** Heirs who live out of town are often only asked to sign. Read the list of names and the statements first.
- **Leaving out an heir.** An incomplete list lets the letter be challenged.
- **Using the wrong form.** A kelurahan letter gets made, then the bank asks for a notarial deed. Time and money are spent twice.
- **Thinking the letter divides the estate.** Once it exists, the family still needs a written division agreement signed by everyone.
- **Waiting.** The longer it takes, the more heirs there are, because an heir who dies is replaced by their children. A list of five can become twelve.

## Buyers and this letter

If you are buying inherited land, ask for a copy of the heirship letter and check that every name in it signs the sale deed, in person or through a power of attorney. Match it against the Kartu Keluarga too. A buyer who misses one heir can be sued years later. More warning signs are in the [guide to avoiding land disputes](/en/artikel/menghindari-sengketa-tanah/).

If the land was bought by a spouse during the marriage, the status of joint property also affects who is entitled. That is explained in [joint property rules in a sale](/en/artikel/properti-harta-bersama/).

## When to get help

If there are few heirs, everyone agrees, and the receiving institution accepts a kelurahan letter, you can handle it yourself. Ask a notary or PPAT for help if there are children from another marriage, heirs abroad, heirs who are minors, a will, or a dispute.

If you want to sell inherited land or a house in South Kalimantan, Vorneo can help market it through [titip jual](/en/titip-jual/) (listing with us). Get the heirship letter done first, so the sale doesn't stall halfway.

## 常见问题

### Who is authorised to make a surat keterangan waris?

There is no single official. It can be a statement by the heirs confirmed by the lurah (ward head) and camat (subdistrict head), a notarial deed, a letter from the Balai Harta Peninggalan (the state estate office), or a court determination. Which one you use depends on the family, the estate, and what the receiving institution asks for.

### Is a heirship letter from the kelurahan enough to transfer a certificate?

The land registration rules accept a surat pernyataan ahli waris made by the heirs, witnessed by two people and confirmed by the lurah and camat. Even so, a PPAT (land deed official) or a bank sometimes asks for another form, such as a notarial deed. Ask the PPAT or the Kantor Pertanahan (land office) before the letter is drawn up.

### When is a court determination needed?

Usually when there is a dispute over who the heirs are, when an heir can't be located, or when the receiving institution refuses another form. Muslims can ask the Pengadilan Agama (religious court) for a determination of heirs, and everyone else goes to the Pengadilan Negeri (district court).

## 相关文章

- [AJB Costs and PPAT Fees: The Breakdown and Who Pays](https://vorneo.id/zh/artikel/biaya-ppat-dan-akta-jual-beli/)
- [KDB, KLB and GSB Explained: How Much Can You Build on Your Land](https://vorneo.id/zh/artikel/kdb-klb-dan-gsb/)
- [NJOP, Market Price and Bank Appraisal: The Difference and When Each Is Used](https://vorneo.id/zh/artikel/njop-harga-pasar-dan-appraisal/)

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