Explain the personal and cross-border background

Tell the adviser about nationality, residence, marital and family circumstances, religious status where legally relevant, and the countries connected to the estate. These details can affect available routes and applicable law. Include previous marriages, dependants, and existing court orders where relevant. Do not rely on a friend’s registration experience without checking whether their circumstances and the current rules match yours.

List assets by ownership and location

Prepare a schedule of real estate, accounts, business interests, investments, and significant liabilities. Identify whether an asset is held personally, jointly, or through an entity. Record the country and institution involved, without circulating account passwords. Gather existing beneficiary nominations and ownership documents. The adviser can then consider which assets a proposed instrument addresses and where a separate process may be needed.

Understand the eligibility of each registration route

The DIFC Courts Wills Service is an option designed for eligible non-Muslims and publishes its own registration and document requirements. It is not a universal service for every person or circumstance. Ask which available route fits your situation and the assets or guardianship arrangements concerned. Registry administration and registration are also different from receiving independent advice on how a will should be drafted.

Coordinate new documents with existing plans

Bring any earlier wills, trusts, marital agreements, and relevant overseas advice to the discussion. Ask whether a new document revokes an earlier one and how overlapping provisions should be addressed. Consider who will administer the estate and whether proposed representatives or guardians understand the role. A consistent plan is more useful than several forms whose scope or interaction has never been examined.

Keep the plan usable after registration

Follow the chosen route’s current execution and registration instructions, and retain the final document and confirmation securely. Tell appropriate trusted people how to find the records. Review the arrangements after major family, residence, or asset changes. A will does not remove every later probate or administration step, so ask what the appointed person would need to do and which supporting records should remain accessible.

Bring the details together

Before your next step.

  • A family and residence overview with cross-border connections.
  • An asset and liability schedule showing ownership and location.
  • Existing wills, nominations, and other planning documents.
  • Confirmed eligibility, registration steps, and storage arrangements.

Reference points: DIFC Courts, Wills Service FAQs and registration guidance. Eligibility, succession law, and cross-border effects need individual advice. Reviewed September 30, 2026.