My father, a Hindu, passed away in 1997 leaving behind a property in Chennai. My mother, who also recently passed away last year, and I, his son, are trying to understand who owns the property now and what steps are needed to sell it.

As your father passed away in 1997, his property would have been inherited by his legal heirs, including your mother and you, as per the Hindu Succession Act, 1956. Since your mother has also passed away, you are now the sole legal heir and have full ownership of the property. To sell it, you’ll need to obtain a succession certificate from the relevant court and comply with other applicable property laws and regulations.