Q: Legal heirship certificate for a person who lived in the UAE but now lives in India and died.

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: Dear Sir/Madam, My name is R. A. K. s/o A. K., Pakistani national, currently working here in Riyadh- KSA in an office admin position. We need your cooperation regarding my late father (Mr A. K.) bank account matter. My father died in the UAE on 31 Oct 2012, because of a heart attack. We received his documents which show us that he had a business in scrap and a bank account in the UAE in a bank, and that account he used and issued cheques to some companies which is a million UAE dirhams. We just want to check his account details/all statements to know further about his business and account amount. I have all the documents including birth certificate. Kindly requiring your advice. Thank you.

Q: Good day, My friend now is facing some difficulties to get part of a property located in Dubai. She is a citizen of a Central Asian country and her husband is a citizen of Yemen. They got married in a registry office in Dubai. He had died some time ago and there is no will left. He used to have 2 more wives and children from these wives. My friend (his 3rd wife) wants to get some part of the property located in Dubai. Her husband used to have a residence in the UAE as an investor. Can you please assist whether she can claim for the part of this property (both of them are not citizens of the UAE)? If yes, is it possible to explain in brief the procedure? If no, can she obtain a decision from the Court from her country of residence on the division of the property located in Dubai and later enforce this decision in Dubai? Then will the court of Dubai recognize and enforce this decision of the Civil Court of the foreign country? Thanks

Q: Hi, I am reaching out to seek advice on the payments (i.e. insurance claim, final settlement) as the employee passed away and left the spouse and two kids age 7-year-old son (autistic), and 1 & half year daughter. The employee is non-Muslim and passed away outside the UAE while visiting his home country. As an employer, we intend to pay the deceased family in their home country account for the insurance and final settlement. None of the deceased family members here in the UAE and the spouse will not be able to travel to the UAE in the given situation of the pandemic. However, the family is in great need of finances since they are the main beneficiary. As an employer, we seek advice if we can transfer the payment to the employee deceased beneficiary account in the home country instead of the deceased employee bank account in the UAE. Thank you

Q: Hi! I would like to know about the inheritance of a bank account. Who receives the money? And can we make a will to ensure only the wife and children receive money as it is a movable asset or normal sharia law will apply?

Q: My uncle passed away in Abu Dhabi. He has a bank account, a mobile number, and a car registered in his name in Abu Dhabi. Please may I know, the following: 1) What are all documents needed for transferring all his assets to his wife's name? 2) Please share the process/steps to be followed. 3) Death certificate issued by the UAE, do we need to attest it with the UAE embassy?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My relative passed away in Morocco, and I am from the UAE. He had a bank account, and neither I nor the bank know of any other relatives related to him. Does this mean that I am legally entitled to his bank account? Or, does it mean that if other potential relatives surface later, I will be considered a thief?

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 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.

The appointment of 'Benficiary' applies to payments made in respect of EOSB – End of Service Benefits, other emoluments due to the employee, unpaid salaries, employee insurance claim benefits, and all other cash and /or asset benefits due to the employee.

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.

A new civil personal status decree has been introduced in the emirate of Abu Dhabi by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. This personal status decree will be applicable for non-Muslim foreigners based in Abu Dhabi in matters of marriage, divorce, Will, inheritance, and custody of children.

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.

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.