Registered with: Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) | Dubai Courts | Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD)
A Will is a legal declaration made during a person’s lifetime to ensure that assets are inherited by heirs and survivors in the manner intended by the individual. In the UAE, registering a Will provides clarity and legal recognition of one’s wishes, especially where Sharia law may not align with personal preferences.
In the UAE, if a registered Will is not in place, inheritance is typically governed by Sharia law, which may not align with an individual’s personal
preferences. Therefore, registering a Will in the UAE provides clarity and legal recognition of one’s wishes.
A Single Will is a legal document written by one person to declare how their assets should be handled after they are deceased.This type of Will offers maximum flexibility and autonomy, especially if you have personal assets or your own wishes not sharedwith a third person.
An individual creates and signs a Will that reflects their personal wishes. The Will is legally independent and can be updated orchanged at any time by the individual, subject to applicable laws.
Mirror Wills are used by two people, typically married or in a legal partnership, who have almost identical wishes. These Wills “mirror” each other, meaning if one person passes away, the other inherits everything, and once both have passed, the assets are passed on to their chosen beneficiaries, often children.
Each individual signs a separate Will, but the contents reflect the other’s. Though not legally tied together, Mirror Wills are created in mutual trust and are usually drafted at the same time for consistency.
Feature | Single Will | Mirror Wills |
Best For | Individuals or separate financial arrangements | Couples with shared goals |
Flexibility | High – fully customisable | Moderate – relies on mutual agreement |
Legal Documents | One individual Will | Two mirrored Wills |
Risk of Disagreement | None | Possible if one person later changes their Will |