Over 4.4 million people of Indian origin live in the United States — a large share of them holding property, family assets, or unresolved inheritance matters back in India. Distance makes these matters easy to postpone, but far more expensive and complicated to resolve later, particularly as property fraud, encroachment, and disputed succession claims on NRI-owned assets continue to rise across India.
Advocate Naresh Kalra, based in Chandigarh with offices across India, provides dedicated NRI legal services for clients across California, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, and every other US state — covering Power of Attorney execution, property transactions and disputes, inheritance and succession, NRI taxation and FEMA compliance, and family law, all coordinated remotely through video calls, WhatsApp, and secure digital document sharing.
Specific and General Power of Attorney drafting for property sale, purchase, litigation, and administrative matters — structured for US notarisation and apostille, executed on your behalf in India.
End-to-end transaction management — title search, encumbrance verification, agreement drafting, stamp duty calculation, sub-registrar coordination, and registration, all via your appointed attorney-in-fact.
Urgent civil possession suits and police-coordinated action to recover NRI-owned property lost to encroachment, forged Power of Attorney, or impersonation-based fraudulent sale.
Succession certificates, legal heir certificates, will probate, and Letters of Administration — covering intestate succession, will-based inheritance, and disputed successions across Indian states.
Lower/Nil TDS certificate applications, capital gains computation, Form 15CA/15CB remittance certification, and FEMA-compliant repatriation of sale proceeds to your US bank account.
Divorce, maintenance, and child custody representation for cross-border families, coordinated with jurisdictional realities between Indian courts and US proceedings.
Full representation in property disputes, partition suits, cheque bounce cases, and criminal complaints in India — you never need to appear in person.
Possession delay, refund, and compensation claims against developers before the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), pursued entirely on your behalf.
Entity incorporation, FDI-compliant structuring, and foreign director/virtual office arrangements for USA-based NRIs and OCI cardholders investing in India.
A properly executed Power of Attorney is the single most important document for any NRI managing Indian property or legal matters remotely. Because property fraud is a real risk, we insist on a narrow, advocate-reviewed Specific Power of Attorney (SPOA) wherever possible — rather than an open-ended General Power of Attorney — clearly naming the exact property, transaction, and authorised actions.
Never issue a blank or open-ended POA to anyone, including family members, without independent legal review. A narrow, specific POA — reviewed and registered correctly — is the single best protection against property fraud while you are abroad.
Selling or holding property in India as a US-based NRI carries specific tax and foreign exchange compliance obligations that must be handled correctly to avoid delays or penalties on both sides.
| Aspect | Key Point |
|---|---|
| TDS on Property Sale | Approximately 20% on long-term capital gains (property held over 24 months), or up to 30% for short-term gains, plus applicable surcharge and cess |
| Lower/Nil TDS Certificate | Available under Section 197 (Form 13) to reduce TDS deduction based on actual computed capital gains rather than the full sale value |
| Capital Gains Exemption | Available under Sections 54 and 54EC on reinvestment of gains into eligible residential property or specified bonds |
| Repatriation Limit | Up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO account balances under FEMA, subject to tax payment and certification |
| Remittance Certification | Form 15CA (self-declaration) and, where required, Form 15CB (Chartered Accountant certificate) must be filed before remittance |
| US-Side Reporting | Rental income from Indian property must generally be reported on US federal returns (Schedule E); NRO/NRE account balances may be FBAR-reportable if combined balances exceed USD 10,000 at any point in the year |
We coordinate closely with Chartered Accountants on the Indian side and can work alongside your US CPA to ensure DTAA (Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement) benefits between India and the USA are correctly claimed, avoiding double taxation on the same income.
Depending on which US state you reside in, your Power of Attorney attestation or other consular services will typically be handled by one of the following jurisdictions:
| Indian Mission | Typical Jurisdiction (Illustrative) |
|---|---|
| Embassy of India, Washington D.C. | Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and surrounding states |
| Consulate General of India, New York | New York, New Jersey, Connecticut |
| Consulate General of India, Chicago | Illinois, Michigan, and neighbouring Midwest states |
| Consulate General of India, Houston | Texas and nearby southern states |
| Consulate General of India, San Francisco | California (Northern), and Pacific states |
| Consulate General of India, Atlanta | Georgia and surrounding southeastern states |
Consular jurisdictions and appointment procedures can change — always confirm current jurisdiction boundaries and appointment requirements on the official Indian Embassy/Consulate website for your state before your visit. We can guide you on which office applies to your specific matter.
A video call or WhatsApp consultation at a US-friendly time to understand your matter and outline the legal path forward.
We review existing deeds, certificates, wills, or court orders and provide a clear written opinion on risks and recommended next steps.
Drafting the appropriate Power of Attorney or other documents, guiding you through US notarisation and apostille/attestation.
Our team executes the matter in India — registration, court filing, negotiation, or transaction completion — under your Power of Attorney.
Ongoing updates via email, WhatsApp, and scheduled calls, with documentation shared digitally at every milestone.
Final resolution — sale completion, dispute resolution, or succession transfer — followed by FEMA-compliant repatriation where applicable.
Years of Legal & Financial Advisory Experience
Remote Representation — No Travel Required
Countries Served Across the Global Indian Diaspora
Secure, Confidential Document Handling
Yes — through a Power of Attorney executed via US notarisation and apostille, or Indian Consulate attestation, your appointed attorney-in-fact in India can complete the entire sale, registration, and proceeds repatriation on your behalf.
Both India and the USA are Hague Apostille Convention members, so a US-notarised, apostilled POA is generally valid in India. Indian Consulate attestation is often recommended additionally for high-value transactions, given varying familiarity across sub-registrar offices.
Typically around 20% for long-term capital gains or up to 30% for short-term gains, plus surcharge and cess — reducible via a Lower/Nil TDS Certificate under Section 197 (Form 13) based on actual computed gains.
Up to USD 1 million per financial year from NRO account balances under FEMA, subject to tax payment and filing of Form 15CA/15CB.
OCI cardholders can inherit agricultural land even though direct purchase is generally restricted; inherited agricultural land can typically only be sold or gifted to a person resident in India, subject to state land laws.
Yes — consultations are available during US evening and weekend slots via video call, WhatsApp, and email, accommodating Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones.