Wills & Legacy Planning Lawyers in Dubai

We have vast experience in drafting DIFC Wills, Abu Dhabi Wills, Estate Administration, Legacy Planning and setting up Foundations in the UAE. Let us help you secure your legacy now.

HOW CAN TWS LEGAL CONSULTANTS HELP YOU WITH YOUR WILLS?

For over a decade TWS Legal Consultants has established an excellent reputation for dedicating itself to protecting its client’s wealth, business interests, and family needs, both now and for the future.
TWS has vast experience in preparing bespoke Wills and advising on the best options for legacy planning matters for individuals, families, and business owners with local and international assets. Both Muslim and non-Muslim expatriates seek their advice on the laws that apply in the UAE and how an individual’s family and assets can be protected through DIFC/Abu Dhabi Wills, DIFC Foundations and offshore structures.

If you are living in the UAE or are an international investor and have assets/ children its highly recommended to have a Will in the UAE in order to have evidence of your intentions and to avoid the application of local UAE/Sharia law.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT OUR SERVICES

Felt like I was in great hands from the start and really made everything simple and easy to understand.

I was very pleased with the service provided by TWS Legal Consultants. They clearly explained the pros and cons of the Will options available in the UAE. The entire process was smooth and efficient. I have already recommended their services to my colleagues.

I received a great support from the team at TWS Legal Consultants here in Dubai and I would highly recommend their service to anyone looking for a professional law firm in UAE.

Our experience with TWS has been most positive. We have received clear answers to our concerns which were presented professionally and timely. The advice given was well communicated and expertly executed.

The TWS team gave us an excellent service. The procedure for making our wills was briefed very clearly and the process was followed through from start to finish in a very friendly, dedicated and professional manner. We are very please with the service we had been given.

As an expat, my worry has been about what might befall my spouse in the event something were to happen to me. After procrastinating for a long time, because I did not know which legal firm to trust, I was advised to get in touch with TWS. My experience with TWS was excellent.

IMPLICATIONS OF SHARIA LAW ON YOUR FAMILY, PROPERTY AND YOUR COMPANY

Assets, including bank accounts, will be frozen until liabilities have been discharged and then distributed according to a predetermined Sharia formula.

The mother of the children does not automatically become the guardian of the children upon the father’s death.

Under UAE law, company shares do not pass automatically to surviving shareholders and are subject to probate if a shareholder were to die.

WHY DO YOU NEED A WILL IN THE UAE?

To protect the Guardianship of your Children by nominating both permanent and temporary Guardians.
To protect property, you own – as UAE Law applies to real estate owned by expatriates in the UAE. You are in control of your assets and to whom they go as opposed to under UAE Law where the distribution of assets is fixed. You have the freedom to distribute your assets as you wish– you can make specific gifts, i.e to a specific person or charity.
As a business owner, it’s very important to consider business succession planning as part of Will’s process. Besides designating who is to benefit from your estate or shares, your Will also appoints your chosen executors who are responsible for the administration of your estate upon death.
By having a valid Will in the UAE from a practical perspective the Courts in the UAE will be able to deal with the distribution of your assets, bank accounts, etc. with ease post-death as there is evidence of your intentions.
Avoid family disputes and costly court battles – ULTIMATELY – gives you PEACE OF MIND, that if the inevitable happens, your estate will be distributed by your wishes.
To safeguard your assets, family and to avoid any complications it is still highly recommended to have a Will in the UAE as your home country’s laws will not enable you to reflect your wishes, dictate specific asset distribution requirements, or deal with your specific gifts/requests and guardianship wishes.

BENEFITS OF HAVING A WILL IN PLACE

Evidence your intentions and stipulate your own wishes to be carried out.

Document where your assets situated in the UAE will be passed to.

Protect your children and nominate guardians rather than relying on automatic appointments under UAE law.

Avoid prolonged delays, costs and potential family disputes.

TYPES OF WILLS IN THE UAE

DIFC WILLS

Protect your assets and property with a DIFC Will.

ABU DHABI WILLS

Trust our Abu Dhabi Wills Lawyers to ensure wealth protection and safeguard your legacy.

DIFC FOUNDATION

The DIFC introduced the DIFC Foundation regime in 2018 (DIFC Law No.3 of 2018) as an alternative wealth structuring vehicle for both Muslim and Non-Muslim expats resident in the UAE and international investors that wish to protect their assets and family business in the UAE. A Foundation can be set up to hold a family business, real estate, assets such as artwork or for a charitable purpose. A DIFC Foundation is the most innovative way forward to control your assets in the UAE.

WHY SET UP A DIFC FOUNDATION?

As the UAE is a civil law jurisdiction, DIFC Foundations are becoming increasingly popular. One of the most attractive features is it allows you to own property in Dubai. DIFC Foundations are a legal entity which can hold wealth and assets on behalf of beneficiaries. International investors (non-residents) or residents of the UAE can structure their assets through a DIFC Foundation.

BENEFITS OF DIFC FOUNDATION?

no corporation tax
solid governance structure
privacy and confidentiality
private wealth management & asset preservation

succession and legacy planning
creditor and divorce protection
mitigates forced heirship rights
charitable and non-charitable purpose
low set-up costs

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

NITA MARU

Nita Maru is an accomplished UK-qualified solicitor and visionary Managing Partner of TWS Legal Consultants, a dynamic law firm in Dubai.

With over 25 years of experience in senior positions in London and the UAE, Nita is renowned for her expertise in private client law, Wills, inheritance, and succession planning.

Her commitment to excellence, personal yet professional approach, and dedication to safeguarding her clients’ families and assets have earned her respect in the legal community and beyond.

Nita’s practice areas range from Wills & Estate Inheritance, Legacy Planning, Family & Divorce Law and Structuring DIFC Foundations.

Nita is a member of The Law Society of England and Wales, signifying her affiliation with one of the most esteemed legal professional bodies in the UK. Her expertise in family inheritance and succession planning is further validated by her full membership with The Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), a prestigious worldwide association.

Additionally, Nita possesses a full legal consultancy license from the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department and is licensed by DIFC as a Will Draftsman, DIFC Foundations, and other corporate services provider.

Nita Maru’s extensive knowledge in the field of family inheritance and succession planning has garnered significant recognition in various media and legal circles.

As a prolific author and contributor, Nita’s insights on Wills, Inheritance, Succession, and family matters have been featured in esteemed publications such as The Gulf News, The National, and Khaleej Times, British Business Group, Entrepreneur Middle East, Global Legal Group and more.

With an impressive presence in the UAE legal sector spanning over a decade, Nita Maru has fostered a network of trusted and enduring relationships with key institutions such as the Dubai Courts, Personal Status Courts, and DIFC Courts. Her unwavering commitment to legal excellence and client satisfaction has led to her services being regularly recommended by consulates and embassies in the UAE

OTHER SERVICES WE OFFER

Family & Divorce lawyers

DIFC/RAKICC Foundation

UAE Property Conveyancing

Power of Attorney

Probate/Estate Inheritance

Business Succession Planning

UAE Company Formation

Corporate & Commercial Law

Document Certification

Gifting of Property