Legal heir who can certify in tamilnadu

Dear Sirs,

Please advice who is the competent authority to issue a Legal heir certificate in Tamilnadu state. Can a VAO certify the same irrespective of the date of death of the person. I hear some body say that only a teshildar is the competent authority and if the death has happened > than 7 years, then only a civil court can certify the same.

The above is for a purpose of applying a home loan.

Thanks

Bala