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Registrants represent wide cross-section of Dubai's expatriate population
Dubai - The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry (WPR) today announced that more than 200 wills had been registered since its recent launch. The milestone reflects the positive response to the new initiative.
The registrants represent a wide cross-section of Dubai's culturally diverse expatriate population. Out of the first 200registrants, 125 are from Europe, 44 are Indian or of Indian origin andfive come from Middle Eastern countries.The rest of the registrants come from across the world including Asia, North America, Africa and Latin America.
The first service of its kind in the region, the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry aims to provide individuals the ability to register English language wills that allow their Dubai- based assets to be transferred upon death according to their wishes.The rules governing the Registry reflect the spirit of existing UAE laws, which provide non-Muslims the right to choose the way in which their estates are distributed.
"The high demand for registering wills at the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry demonstrates the confidence that people have in theRegistry's ability to providelegal certainty for inheritance," saidMark Beer, Chief Executive and Registrar, DIFC Courts. "Irrespective of their nationality, we have received positive feedback from investors, business owners, professionals and residents across Dubai about how the Registry provides an additional layer of security for investment in Dubai."
"About a quarter of the registered wills are mirror wills executed by husbands and wives, which reflectsthe interestamong families for securing the future of their investments in Dubai" added Beer.
Cynthia Trench, a Dubai-based lawyer, was the first individual to register a will at the Registry. "Dubai offers a great environment for expatriates to achieve success and a safe haven for investment. However, in the past, the lack of certainty in respect of inheritance laws for non-Muslims may have reduced the appetite of expatriates to invest or accumulate surplus assets, often built over years of hard work. With the launch of the Registry, expatriates now have a mechanism to ensure the transfer of their Dubai-based assets to their loved ones at death. Registering a will here provide people with the peace of mind that their wishes will be upheld, their legacy safeguarded, and critical issues like guardianship for their minor children taken care of," she said.
The legal certainty for wills provided by the Registry is further strengthened by the fact that probate orders will be enforced by the DIFC Courts. The enforcement division of the DIFC Courts has astrong track record in the enforcement of DIFC judgments regarding Dubai-based assets in collaboration with the Dubai Courts.
In response to the high demand for urgent appointments, the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry isfurther developing its service offering to include urgent appointments.
Officials at the Registry advise registrants to ensure their wills comply with the Rules governing the DIFC Wills and Probate Registry before scheduling a registration appointment. "We encourage people interested in registering a will to seek professional advice from licensed legal practitioners to write their wills, and to ensurethey have all requireddocuments before visiting the Registry," said Mihaela Moldoveanu, Senior Manager, DIFC Wills and Probate Registry.
Innovative processes put in place by the Registry ensure a high level of confidentiality and security for registered wills. All wills are stored in an electronic format for the remainder of the lifetime of the person, which minimises the possibility of damage, tampering and loss. All wills have to be signed in the presence of a registry officer, a procedure which significantly reduces the possibility of claims challenging the validity of the will at the probate stage.
Will registration appointments can be made online on the WPR website: www.difcprobate.ae
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© Press Release 2015
