Q: Dear Madam, I’m working for a company in Abu Dhabi. My friend/colleague (Non-Muslim) expired in December 2018 (without a will). He lived in Abu Dhabi for more than 20 years and had an account with money and National Bonds. What is the procedure to withdraw the money & National Bonds of the deceased from the account? His wife is in India and not able to visit the UAE. Kindly help me to know the procedures.

Q: Hello, I am a Chinese national who came to Dubai for my father's inheritance case after his passing earlier this year. My father owned 2 LLC companies with the same local sponsor, one of which he had a 49% share and the other 25%. I wanted to inherit the shares and exit the companies but was told there's nothing for me and my family to inherit. One of the companies is more than 20 years old and the sponsor refuses to show me financial statements for these companies. What can I do, please?

Q: Hi, My father of Greek/Cypriot origin owned a business in Limassol, Cyprus for over 30 years. The land which this business was built on was owned by the Turkish government (Merimner.. I think) which was allocated and the ownership of the building was in my Father's name. Unfortunately my father passed away suddenly in April 2000, since this time I have applied and attended the offices in Limassol to claim and transfer over the ownership into my name which for some reason has been prevented from happening. I am still unable to find out whom I need to speak with, or even where to start and would like to know what I can do to gain what was legally my right in transferring the land over into my name. For over 17 years now I have been prevented from inheriting what I feel was rightfully mine. Could you please advise if this is something that I could learn more about or if there is a case to be opened regarding this. Many thanks, Chris

Q: Hi, My father died in Kalba hospital. My mother is in Pakistan, my brother is in Indonesia and I am in Malaysia. Can I come directly to the U.A.E and make a letter of succession? Or I need a POA? If yes, is my mother's POA enough or I need a POA from my brother also? Kindly reply, Thanks!

Q: I am a Hindu widow. My husband died recently. I have a son and a daughter. There are three situations where I request assistance: A) About a year ago, my husband had registered a commercial execution lawsuit against a company that owed him money. How can I continue the execution lawsuit? B) My husband had won a civil verdict but not yet registered the related civil execution lawsuit. How can I register the civil execution lawsuit? C) A company owes some money to my husband. They had issued a statement of account and an acknowledgment of debt, but they keep on refusing to pay and keep on asking for time. How to start a payment order lawsuit "Amr Ada" on the company when they issued an acknowledgment of debt letter to my husband? I only have a marriage certificate and a death certificate. Do I need some other certificates to prove that I am the heir? How will I attach the case to my username in Dubai courts system? My son and daughter are ready to give me any documents that I need from them.

Q: Hi, My father, who is an Egyptian Moslem and never was a resident of the UAE, has 4 properties in unfinished developments in Dubai who he was paying instalments on. We (the heirs - myself, my two sisters, and my mother) would like to transfer the properties in our names so we can continue to pay the instalments. I understand we need to file a case at the Personal Status Court to obtain a court order and give it to the Dubai Land Department to update their records based on the Dubai Court Order. I have the following documents: - Father's death certificate attested by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and UAE embassy in Cairo. - Inheritance certificate stating that we are the legal heirs attested from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and UAE consulate. - General PoA from my sisters and mom to myself attested from Egyptian Foreign Ministry and UAE consulate. - Passport copies of all of us including my dad. - Contracts for properties from developer. Do I need anything else?

Q: We are Hindu. My brother expired in the UAE recently. A) My brother had registered a civil execution case in Dubai courts. I have applied for a succession certificate. Is this sufficient for me to register my name in the execution court as the person who will make petitions and collect any payments that the debtor makes? Or do I have to mention this existing lawsuit in the inheritance file? B) A company had issued an acknowledgment of debt in the name of my brother, but they refuse to pay. What steps do I need to take at family court for the inheritance so that I can, later on, start a commercial lawsuit to collect the debts that the company owes to my deceased brother? Do I need a letter from the family court that allows me to start a commercial case on behalf of my deceased brother? Thank you!

س: الأستاذ/ أحمد المحترم، تُوفي رجل بالإمارات تاركًا حساب بالبنك وسيارة. تريد أرملته وأولاده الحصول على إرث أبيهم. مع العلم أن أحد الأبناء تُوفي (مع العلم أن الوالدة لديها من ابنها المتوفَّى توكيل عام من قبل وفاته) وهم جميعًا يعيشون بدولة أجنبية.

Q: Will I ever get it as we were not married and he had no Will in the UAE or the UK? Will the Sharia law be applied? If so, I will not get any of it, will I?

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.

With the introduction of the new procedures for obtaining a power of attorney (POA) remotely in the UAE, after it was mandatory to appear in person in front of the notary public as a global rule to ensure the identity and intention of the person requesting a POA, we put between your hands this brief guide for how you get it done.

UAE Personal Status Law (also known as Personal Affairs Law) governs marriage, divorce, inheritance and other personal affairs in the United Arab Emirates. The law equally applies to citizens of the UAE and non-citizens unless one of them asks for the application of his home country law.