Q: Good evening! I am a UAE resident and would like to create a legal will to secure my assets and ensure a smooth inheritance process for my family. Could your firm help me draft a will that is valid in the UAE courts and assist with registration?

Q: Hi there, My husband and I are Muslims. My husband passed away recently. We have a Canadian will, but I understand that it won’t be honored as I am named the sole beneficiary, and that does not align with Sharia laws in the UAE. He was not a UAE resident but had a small apartment with no Will in the UAE. We have 3 children. I am planning to go to Dubai to start an inheritance case. I don’t know the exact order of events and what needs to be done first. 1) Do I initiate anything from overseas before making travel plans to Dubai, or do I start once I arrive in Dubai? Mind you, we cannot afford to stay in Dubai for too long, as the kids have school. 2) Do I need a lawyer, or can this be done by myself? 3) I understand all foreign documents need to be authenticated before presenting them to the court. But I don’t know at what stage I would need these documents authenticated. I would appreciate it if you could provide a breakdown of the steps, the forms that are needed, and where I can find them. Thank you

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My father passed away in Pakistan. I am his only son residing in Pakistan with two sisters. He maintained a bank account and shares in a business in Sharjah. How can I get a bank statement of my late father's account and check the status of his shares in business?

Q: Hello, What are the rules for expat Muslim parents living in the UAE in the event of their death? Who will take care of their child, and how can they choose the persons they want their child to be with? Should they specify it in a will?

Q: Dear Lawyers, My father passed away in India and was a resident of the UAE, holding a Dubai visa at the time of his death. He held two LLC trade licenses under his name, with 4 partners. All partners are the wife and sons. What is the procedure to remove my father’s name from the trade license? I have the death certificate attested by the Indian Embassy in the UAE. Please advise!

Q: Dear Lawyers, If a property is registered in Dubai in the joint names of a husband and wife, does the wife automatically get his share upon the husband's death, or is his share distributed according to his will, which could include other relatives?

Planning your estate in the UAE is essential to safeguard your family’s financial security and ensure your wishes are honored. Without a legally registered will, Sharia-based inheritance rules may dictate the distribution of your assets, often in ways that don’t reflect your intentions, especially for expatriates. Here’s why you should register a will in the UAE, who can do it, and where to go to get it done.

In a landmark move, the UAE has enacted Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024, ushering in major reforms to personal status law for Muslim residents. These changes reflect a modernized approach to family matters, civil marriage, and women's rights, while staying rooted in Islamic principles.

Inheritance matters can be intricate, especially in a jurisdiction like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where local laws and international considerations intersect. Understanding the procedures to obtain a succession certificate or legal heir certificate is crucial for the rightful distribution of a deceased's assets.

An interview-format article covering reasons why a non-Muslim expatriate should have a will in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW. Ludmila sheds light in this article on the right time and place to start the procedure based on tested practices in the UAE.

The article states the currently available options on how to set up a Will in the UAE. The expatriate (non-Muslim) testator has several options on how to protect the assets in the UAE and how to appoint guardians for the minor child(ren) habitually residing in the Emirates.

Do you have assets in the UAE? Have you made a will yet? It is highly recommended to register a will soon, otherwise, the drive to asset disbursement can be extensive and expensive. In addition to the option of registering a will in DIFC for Non-Muslim will registration, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) had also introduced a separate office since August 2017, which has made the entire will registration process easier and cost-effective.

In 2016, Dubai introduced an exceptionally unique solution to entertain basic asset protection needs to Foreign Investors and Expat Residents living in Dubai. They can now be 100% sure their assets are fully protected against any problems that may arise because of the forced heirship system applied by the Sharia Regulations in the United Arab Emirates, or any other conflict between the religious laws of succession between the person and the state where he lives and invests.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (41) of 2024 On the Issuance of the Personal Status Law, known as the "New Personal Status Law", governs the laws of personal status in the United Arab Emirates. The New Law of Personal Status repeals the previous UAE Law of Personal Status (Federal Law No. (28) of 2005 on Personal Status).