Here is a little background

A women who is from Nepal and married now both husband and wife have taken US citizenship. The women is single child and her parents are still in Nepal. Her parents and grandparents has lot of land and inherited properties.

Query:
As of now she is the only heir in the family. can she inherit the property? In Nepal all legal process needs Nepali citizenship and now she is not a Nepali Citizenship. Next question is she is married and Nepal law is always not in favor for girls. Her status of being US citizen and also married, what are the options she had now?

Milna chai milcha ali jhanjhat chai huncha.

Yaso wakeel ko jaankari chahincha bhane निर्धक्क bataunus. Sodh pooch garna lai paisa pardaina

Don’t tell nobody you are us citizen.you still have nepali citizenship card.that doesn’t have expiry date.It won’t be problemn.but these days people love to flash citizenship in social media .if you did that than you might be in trouble

Get an NRN Card from one of the Nepal Consulates in the US; and when you are in Nepal next time, get an NRN Citizenship card from Local District Administration Office - That will allow you to inherit and maintain property in Nepal. Now, selling the properties and transferring the money to the US is another question - you will be liable for capital gain taxes of unto 40% if you try to bring the money through legal channels! Inheriting the properties and maintaining it (up to a certain legal limit) in Nepal is allowed under the NRN Citizenship act. Hope this helps.

Thank you for your response. Do you know anybody who has been through this process? Or do you have contact information of lawyer who has done this if yes could you pass it.

Her parents are talking to some lawyers who are neighbors or friends who are retired lawyers now. They all have different answer. Some says it is hard, some says doable. The family wants to do everything in legal way so that she does not have to be in any kind of problem down the line. The parents does not want to sell the property as well as it is their inherited properties from generations.

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Yo firm ramro cha aru bhanda

Nrn citizenship or nrn card is not recognized in malpot yet . Yes it is the qct and people have it in their pocket but no krayabidhi for it as of now. Lawyer told me that they can issue lalpurja for a day to sell or transfer. No straight answer. Now a days they also need national identity card to do anything not just nagarikta.

Thank you Sida Nepali. Her parents have heard the same.

Any suggestions or options that are available?

She is not alone. Thousands of us are in the same limbo. Hopefully they sort out nrn karyabidhi soon but again it's already 2 years with no movement after nrn ctzp are issued. It depends what she is trying to do , if it's inheritence and her parents or grand parents are still healthy then don't even worry about it for now. Selling it is one option.

Thank you Sida Nepali. Her parents have heard the same.

Any suggestions or options that are available?

You’ve asked two very thoughtful and important questions. Let me break them down clearly:

1. 

As a U.S. citizen (having renounced Nepali citizenship), can she still inherit property in Nepal?

Yes—but with significant limitations.

According to Nepal’s National Civil Code, 2017:

• Foreign nationals, including former Nepali citizens, are generally prohibited from owning immovable property in Nepal. If they inherit such property, they cannot register or transfer it in their name without exceptions.  
• However, there’s an exception under NRN (Non-Resident Nepali) provisions: A Foreign Citizen of Nepali Origin (like your situation) can inherit ancestral property without needing special government approval—but only if they hold a valid NRN ID card. With NRN status, they can receive a permanent land ownership certificate. Without it, they must transfer the property to a Nepali citizen, receiving only a temporary ownership certificate for a single day.  

One user on Reddit explained it succinctly:

“Foreigners can inherit immovable property in Nepal—but cannot get it registered in their name. They must transfer the property to a Nepali citizen after inheritance. A provisional land-ownership certificate valid for the day of transfer is issued.”

2. 

Given her status as a married U.S. citizen and the challenges for women under Nepalese law, what are her options now?

Here’s a breakdown of key options and legal rights:

A. 

Legal Rights—Daughters Have Equal Inheritance Rights

Nepal’s Civil Code, 2017 significantly improved gender equality:

• Daughters have equal rights to ancestral property just like sons, regardless of their marital status. They are treated as coparceners, meaning equal share and succession rights alongside parents, spouses, and children.  
• Married daughters retain inheritance rights, and women (including widows) can inherit and manage property under the current law.  

B. 

Implementation Gaps in Practice

While the law supports her rights, societal and cultural norms sometimes pose practical challenges:

• There are reports of widows struggling to access inherited property due to lack of documentation or resistance from family members. Legal reforms exist, but actual enforcement may lag.  
• Activists, including Women for Human Rights, have successfully advocated for progressive changes—like allowing single women to inherit freely, removing requirements based on age or “chastity,” and eliminating need for male consent for passports.  

C. 

Options Available to Her Now

1. Apply for NRN Status
   
• If she obtains a valid NRN card, she can legally inherit and even register ancestral immovable property in her name outright.  
• NRN status also grants other benefits like owning property, investing, opening bank accounts, and easier travel arrangements.  
2. 
   
3. Use a Local Legal Representative with Power of Attorney
   
• While she arranges NRN status, she can appoint someone in Nepal (e.g. a lawyer or trusted family member) to manage necessary legal matters related to property.  
4. 
   
5. Alternatively, If NRN Card Isn’t Obtained
   
• She may still inherit property, but must transfer it to a Nepali citizen within a specified time, using a temporary ownership certificate. Otherwise, the property might revert to the state.  
6. 
   
7. Ensure Proper Documentation and Legal Support
   
• For a smooth inheritance process, gather and prepare all necessary documents: citizenship proof, family relationships, land ownership certificates, wills (if any), etc. In disputes, she may need to file for partition (angsabanda) or other legal remedies.  
8. 
   
9. Seek Expert Legal Advice
   
• Working with a knowledgeable Nepali property or inheritance lawyer, especially one experienced with NRN cases, will help her navigate procedural complexities.
10. 
    

Thank you @ktmpost for your elaborated response.

Do you know lawyer in Nepal who has better understanding of NRN and inheritance?

May i ask after one's parent or grandparents demise, how long you can wait to transfer the inheritance before it goes to the state?

Nepal ma ta sarkar le bhanda pani atikraman gardinchan mafia haru le. Ani ta firta pako pai ho. Pahila atikraman garchan ani sarkar le naya bidheyak pass gardincha. Tespachi karaudai base matrai ho. Sab bhanda ramro bideshi nagarikta leko ho bhane Samaya Mai beche huncha.

Call SURENDRA TIWARI. He also takes calls from usa and payment over money transfers.
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Contact no.: +977-9849093540
Email: surendra@lawimperial.com

@Sambhabi : did you find out if malpot considers NRN citizenship card for inheriting property or not ? Would really appreciate if you could share what you found out.

@Atiranjeet

Some new updates after my grandparents goes to malpot. Malpot does not recognize NRN card. The first document they need is Nepali Citizenship.

Second query is for married girls. yes there is is some new laws for girls but those applied only to the property of their husband side. Once they are married there is no rights in their parents property.

Third query if the parents does not have son and daughter is only the heir then the parents has to write baksapatra and register it ( which is a kind of will which she will inherit after parents demise). Then only the daughter can get it else she has to pass lot of legal process which goes for years.

Sambhabi, you are cooked . Its gonna be very long uphill battle for you in coming days. Its not easy . gOODLUCK

@Sambhabi: What about NRN citizenship ( not NRN card) ? Malpot also does not recognize NRN citizenship?

@Atiranjeet,

My grandparents are trying to find more. Different lawyer has different sayings. So, my parents are trying to find from CDO office.

I will let you know if I find anything new