How to register a will in UAE as an expat?
Medha Mohan
- at Family, Wills, Succession Planning
- on Mar 24, 2023 - 09:41
- on Updated: Mar 24, 2023 - 17:56
Many expatriates in the UAE do not realize the significance of having a Will that is registered legally. If they don't have one, the process of transferring their assets to their rightful heirs after their death can be very time-consuming, and complex.
If you have a registered Will, it can make it easier to transfer your money in bank accounts, end-of-service payments, gratuity payments, death-in-service benefits, investments, personal possessions, property, joint bank accounts, and guardianship of children to your chosen beneficiaries without any legal complications.
In the UAE, a non-Muslim may register their will and leave the inheritance to anybody they like by naming them as the beneficiaries.
Inheritance in the UAE is mainly governed by two Federal Laws: the Personal Affairs Law of No.28 of 2005, which allows non-Muslim expats to choose the law of their own country for asset distribution in the UAE, and the UAE Civil Code.
According to the new Civil Personal Status which came into action in 1 February 2023, the beneficiaries, as specified in your home nation's will, must have the original will notarized and legalized by the appropriate authorities in your home country and the UAE Embassy/Consulate, also there.
You can now register your Will online by having a video conference call with either the DIFC Wills Service Centre or the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Before the registration appointment, you will need to upload all the necessary documents and IDs. During the virtual appointment, an Authorized Officer will review the Will with you and witnesses via video link, and complete the registration process.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has established rules for non-Muslims who own assets in the UAE regarding inheritance and succession matters. This new office provides non-Muslims with assets in all Emirates the option to manage their inheritances. The DIFC Wills Service Centre allows eligible non-Muslims to register their English Wills according to the testamentary freedom codes, giving them the power to distribute their UAE or global assets after their death. Non-Muslims can also have a bilingual Will notarized by a Notary Public in the Dubai Local Courts.
Article 6 (a) of Dubai Wills Law states that a register known as the ‘Register of Wills of non-Muslims’ has been created at the Dubai Courts and at the DIFC Courts to register the Wills of non-Muslims.
The individual making a Will should have the updated details of:
- Investments in the UAE (with evidence of ownership)
- Liabilities, and to whom they are to be paid
- Proof of residency
- Passport copies of the whole family
- Additional authorized records such as marriage certificates
After the Will is prepared, it has to be:
- Translated into Arabic
- Authenticated by the Dubai Courts or Notary
- Attested by their Nation's Consulate
It is always recommended to consult a lawyer with expertise and proficiency in drafting the will and succession planning. With proper guidance and support from the legal consultant this tedious process works out in no time.
For any legal queries or information, contact ask@tlr.ae or call us on +971526443004
- wills
- end-of-service payments
- gratuity payments
- death-in-service benefits
- investments
- personal possessions
- property
- joint bank accounts
- and guardianship of children
- How to register a will in UAE as an expat
- wills
- end-of-service payments
- gratuity payments
- death-in-service benefits
- investments
- personal possessions
- property
- joint bank accounts
- and guardianship of children
- How to register a will in UAE as an expat
- Civil Personal Status Law
Related News
UAE maternity and paternity leave: All you need to know
For women and men working in the UAE, maternity and paternity benefits vary between the private sector and public (government) sector. The provisions may also be different if you are working under a different jurisdiction such as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). However, the maternity leave provisions of the UAE Labour Law apply to private-sector employees equally across all of the...
- By, Sunil Ambalavelil
- Share
Simplifying Marriage of Indian Expats in UAE
If you are an Indian couple wishing to marry each other in the UAE, it is imperative to know the procedure involved therein and the eligibility factors. Marriage is seen as a legal contract between two a man and a woman, aimed at protecting the rights of the couple and their children, as per the UAE Law. Indian expats in the UAE does have the option of solemnizing/ registering their marriages at the...
- By, Sunil Ambalavelil
- Share
India: Bombay High Court Grants Divorce Since Wife Created...
The Bombay High Court has granted divorce to a man on grounds of “mental cruelty” meted out by the woman to her husband, who is 36 years old. The court observed that the evidence suggests that the woman had inflicted mental pain and suffering on the man, so that it was impossible to live with him anymore. Furthermore, it was noted that the Family Courts had refused to grant him divorce...
- By, Sunil Ambalavelil
- Share
Special Marriage To Be Registered Online : Indian Supreme...
In India, the exercise of freedom to choose your own life partner often comes with a fight. Young couples professing their own partners often find themselves resisting irrational parental pressures, societal stigma, and even fake criminal charges of Kidnapping and Sexual Harassment. Here, having a marriage certificate is crucial in avoiding unnecessary legal societal shackles. Earlier, a division...
- By, Sunil Ambalavelil
- Share
How to obtain a Succession Certificate in the UAE?
When a person dies intestate that is without a will, the assets owned by such person are passed on to their legal heirs after the Court has verified the legitimacy of ownership. In such a situation the Succession Certificate comes into view so as to give the holder of the death certificate the authority to take over the assets of the deceased person. As per the general rule, the succession matter...
- By, sankalpmirani
- Share
First Non-Muslim Civil Marriage Contract in Arab Nations...
A Canadian couple was issued the first civil marriage contract by the Non-Muslim Personal Status Court in Abu Dhabi. The civil marriage registration is made available online on the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) website to allow ease of process. Residents and tourists could apply for the civil marriage registration through the ADJD website. As per the conditions of the law, the marriage contracting...
- By, Sunil Ambalavelil
- Share