Questions & Answers
Claiming the EoSB and repatriation costs of a deceased friend
Dear All,
My friend passed away two months ago in Dubai and I had to repatriate his body remains to his home country in India.
The sponsor company had stated in writing that they would bear the repatriation costs, which I had submitted to the Consulate General of India to cancel the passport for the repatriation.
After repatriation, I had visited the sponsor company to claim the repatriation costs and the end of service benefits of my friend. I have obtained the POA in my name on behalf of his legal heirs to claim his end of service benefits from the sponsor company.
The sponsor company is now stating that the repatriation cost reimbursement and end of service benefits can only be released together post-opening an account in Dubai Personal Status Courts.
I am also getting cues from the sponsor company that it is reluctant to reimburse the repatriation cost and is now stating (verbally) that I should not have born the cost.
Kindly advise regarding what should I do to safeguard my position.
Thanks in advance!
Dear questioner,
As per the UAE laws, you need to open a case in the family status court in order to claim your friend's EoSB from the company. Without a court order, it is not possible.
If need be, kindly contact us via phone for a detailed discussion or write us an email for further assistance.
You need to follow certain procedures after which you can get any money, property, or any kind of claim related to the deceased in the UAE. You also need to do this following process if he has a Will.
Under UAE laws, if anyone dies, then, you first need to make a succession certificate from the Personal Status court for which you need two witnesses.
In that proceeding, the court will decide the legal heirs of the deceased. Generally, the wife, parents, and kids are the legal heirs.
After that, file a petition for all his properties based in the UAE in which you include company shares, bank accounts, insurance, property, car, and any other property owned by the deceased to transfer in the name of the legal heirs.
After the examination and confirmation with authorities, the court will order for concern authorities to transfer the assets or shares in name of legal heirs or their POA holder.
If a POA is signed outside the UAE, the attestation of that document is required from the UAE Embassy at the issuing nation and the foreign ministry of UAE. All documents should be translated into Arabic.
For further assistance, you may contact me directly via phone or email.
