When you actually need one
A succession certificate is required where the deceased died intestate, without a will, and left movable assets that an institution will not release without a court order. Bank balances and fixed deposits without a nominee, shares and mutual fund units, debentures, and debts owed to the deceased are the usual triggers.
You will generally not need one where there is a valid nomination, where the asset was jointly held with survivorship, or where the institution accepts an indemnity for a small balance. Many banks do accept indemnity bonds below a threshold, and it is always worth asking before starting a court proceeding.
The petition, step by step
It is a judicial proceeding, so it takes longer than a revenue certificate, but it is not adversarial where the family agrees.
Where they get contested
Objections normally come from an heir who says they were not named, disputes the relationship claimed, or contends that a will exists. Where a will is produced, the proceeding often has to give way to probate or letters of administration instead.
The practical advice is to name every heir in the petition and, where possible, obtain their consent in writing before filing. An uncontested petition moves at a completely different pace from a contested one, and the difference is usually a few conversations at the outset.