Why You Should Have a Will as a Married Couple in the UAE?

If there is anything that we have learnt from the pandemic, it is that life can be full of uncertainties. We all know that talking about or for that matter, even thinking about your demise and the aftermath can be quite disturbing, to say the least. For married individuals, the thought of leaving behind your spouse and children can be even more unsettling. However, ignoring such a possibility and leaving your family unprepared for such situations can be even more disastrous. This is where the aspect of making a Will comes in. Making a Will becomes all the more important for married couples. Protecting your hard-earned wealth and securing your family’s future is a responsibility you owe yourself and your family.

Why a Will is a must-have for married couples in the UAE?

Firstly, your spouse won’t naturally inherit your assets. Contrary to popular belief, your spouse won’t inherit the estate you leave behind. If a Will has not been made, the courts in UAE decide who is entitled to inherit your assets. Your spouse will have to endure a painstakingly long probate process trying to secure your assets in the UAE. Besides being lengthy, probate can be financially draining. For this very reason, a Will must be written to ensure your spouse rightfully inherits your property once you pass away.

Another common misbelief in the UAE is that the child’s mother is directly appointed as the guardian after the father’s death. However, this is not the case and the decision to appoint guardians for your minor children rests with the courts in the UAE. And this creates another reason for married couples to make Wills: to appoint guardians for their minor children. Your Will must have provisions to appoint your wife as the legal guardian of your children.

What type of Will is suitable for married couples?

In cases where both spouses own assets, it is advisable to make a mirror Will rather than a single Will. This is mainly because a single Will if made for assets owned by both spouses, will be difficult to update if one of the spouses passes away.

A mirror Will basically means two identical Wills with similar wishes for both spouses. In most cases, couples in the UAE prefer their spouses to inherit the assets, which would be then passed on to their children. Besides taking care of the inheritance aspects, spouses can appoint each other as permanent guardians through mirror Wills. Another major advantage of mirror Wills lies in the costs of making these. Making a mirror Will in the UAE is a far more cost-effective option than making two separate Wills. Legal Inz is a leading law firm and offers the most affordable services for drafting mirror Wills in the UAE.