Q: How long does it take for a non-Muslim expat with no will to obtain a succession certificate in the UAE?

Q: Hello, I’m a Pakistani national. My father had an apartment in Dubai and he’s no more with us. I want details regarding legal documents which I need from Pakistan to initiate a case to transfer that apartment by inheritance law in Dubai.

Q: Madam, I work for a Dubai company. My friend/colleague expired in August 2018 while he was on duty in Dubai. What is the procedure for claiming the end of service benefits? His wife already got the Power of Attorney from India, attested by the Indian embassy. Kindly help to know the procedures to claim. She is planning to come to Dubai next month for processing this. Thanks & Regards

Q: Good day, My brother passed away on May 12, 2018, in the Philippines while he was on vacation. He owns a car here in Dubai. I would like to ask what are the legal step-by-step actions for the car to be transferred under my name. I hope you can help me with this since it's almost 2 years now.

Q: Does the bank in the UAE have any right to suspend an account that is just set up with an inheritance just because they don't have the insurance code while attempting a transfer to the US?

Q: Hello. My brother passed away in the hospital in Abu Dhabi in May 2020 due to a medical emergency. The company made all the arrangements; my brother was buried in the Philippines. Due to COVID, my brother's employment contract and other belongings were not endorsed, his wife didn’t have a copy. My sister-in-law is not there in Abu Dhabi. Her trip was provided by the company. There’s so much to do and process, she’s struggling right now and facing difficulty in dealing with the legal department, and navigating all the requirements. Have already reached out to Philippine Embassy, still not helpful. Will it be better to hire a lawyer and assist with the insurance claim and employment benefits? My sister-in-law has a chronic condition and has 2 very young kids. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Q: My father has passed away in Pakistan after serving 17 years in a private company in Dubai. The company has refused to pay his gratuity due to a lack of funds. In case I need to apply for a labor case, what are all the documents required? My father had two wives, my mother being the first wife and my stepmother (currently living in Morroco with my two young stepsisters) and both of them are out of the UAE.

Q: My father was a 49% partner in a Sharjah LLC and passed away in Pakistan. Now I came here. What should I do next and how can I check his bank account?

Q: Dear Sir/ Ma'am, My bank in the UAE has suddenly frozen/blocked my credit card and both my accounts without any prior intimation/information. After taking up the bank several times, the bank informed me that this has been done upon the instructions of the Central Bank and there's no reason given. It has been more than a month and the status quo is maintained. I urgently need to access my accounts since I am in urgent need of funds for medical and personal reasons. I do not have any previous cases nor any pending fines, civil/criminal cases, etc and I have always been very prompt in all my payments for more than 27 years. My questions are: 1) Why have my accounts and card frozen/ blocked (without my intimation)? 2) When will they be unblocked/released? (these are my life savings). 3) Can I travel back to the UAE safely without any action taken against me and my family? (presently I am out of the country). Thank you very much for your kind advice. My best regards

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

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.

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.

The United Arab Emirates is a Sharia-Law country with respect to personal status and inheritance. In accordance with the UAE legislation, the UAE Courts will adhere to Sharia Law in a situation where there is no proper Will in place.

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.

The last Will or the testament has been regulated by all the modern and ancient laws worldwide, as an expression of wishes of any person to some actions and decisions that should be taken, and instructions to be followed after their death - either concerning their assets and how it should be distributed or concerning important decisions towards the well-being and future of their minor children.

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.