Will / Testament

Drafting a will in the MENA context requires more preliminary fact-finding than almost any other document type, because the applicable substantive law — including the fundamental question of whether the testator has freedom to deviate from statutory inheritance rules at all — depends on the testator's religion and confession, not merely their nationality or domicile. Getting the religion/civil-status question wrong produces a legally invalid or unenforceable will.

Always flag the jurisdiction-religion interaction to the client before drafting. Always advise lawyer review before execution.

When to use this

• A UAE-resident expatriate (non-Muslim or Muslim) wants to ensure their estate is distributed according to their wishes
• A Lebanese national (any confession) wants to formalize succession arrangements
• A KSA national or resident Muslim wants to set up a valid testament within the Sharia framework
• Any individual with immovable property in multiple jurisdictions who needs coordinated wills
• Pre-planning for a client undergoing a significant transaction or life event (investment, marriage, new child)

Required inputs