YOUR EXPAT WILL

Don’t postpone the non-urgent important things in LIFE

As the daughter of Lady Hilda van der Tuin pointed out so sucsinct: "it's difficult to negotiate about a Will with the immortal." And we hate to break it you, but you're not immortal.  

Drafting a Will is not expensive (if we do it). For a couple we charge 8.000 AED and that gives you:

* Two Wills, typically one for the wife, and one for the husband,

* Two legal translations into Arabic are included,

* Submission of two Wills to Abu Dhabi Judicial Department is included.

and on top of that there will be registration fees with the authorities in the UAE, of 950 AED per Will for the final video registration.  So you're looking at a once in a life time payment of just below 10.000 AED for a lot of peace of mind. Not only for your spouse, but also for your children and the ones taking care for your children, the guardians. And if we draft the Will, we'll make it future proof. So, if you buy that real estate, or the nice car, or move abroad, there is - usually - no need to alter your Wills.

If you insist on a DIFC Will, costs will be much higher; up to 15.000 AED for one Will. Don't get us wrong, we are fully licensed to do that too; click here to see that registration with DIFC.

What does not work

Translating a Will from any country in the world and expecting it to have any legal value in the United Arab Emirates. Don't believe everything your public notary is telling you in your home country.

Using a standard template is strongly disadvised against. Not because it's against our business, but because these templates never take into account the tax issues that are almoast always crucial when drafting a Will. Specifically if husband and wife do not share the same nationality, these standard templates do more harm than good.

What we need from  you for drafting the Will

We need the following documents and data from you;

The Emirates ID’s of your family;

The visa of you and your spouse;

The passports of your family;

Your physical address in the UAE;

The list with your assets (you can remove the confidential information or information about the value)

The names, addresses, Passport copies, and EID’s of the temporary guardians of your children (if applicable). Usually, the temporary guardians are based in the UAE since they are the ones who take immediate care of a child in case something happens to the mother and father.

The names, addresses, Passport copies of the permanent guardians of your children (if applicable). If they have different last names than you and your wife have, it is easier for me if you explain to me how they are related to you.

The names, addresses, Passport copies of the second, third, and possibly fourth Executor (assuming you are the executor of your spouse and your spouse is yours). Their EID’s if they are based in the UAE.

List of your beneficiaries in case it’s anyone else than your spouse and children. (For example, you have a special watch, and you want your brother to inherit this from you).

The marriage contract in case you signed a contract when you married. If it is just a marriage certificate, and you and your wife didn’t sign prenuptials, I don’t need the document.

If you want to donate your organs after you passed away.

Funeral wishes. Do you want to be buried or cremated? Do you want to be cremated in the UAE or in your home country? Do you want a special ceremony? Should it be a religious ceremony? Do you like certain music? Do you like to wear certain clothes? What should happen with your wedding ring? Etc. etc.