With effect from 30 June 2019, any Wills executed in accordance with the newly amended DIFC Wills & Probate Registry Rules (”Rules”), shall now be able to include assets other than those situated in the Emirates of Dubai and Ras al Khaimah. This is a significant change to the original rules, however care should be taken when drafting a DIFC Will and legal advice should most certainly be sought to ensure that any assets specified in the DIFC Will, are indeed truly capable of being included for all intents and purposes, lest a badly drafted will render the entire will null and void!  

The DIFC Wills & Probate Registry are allowing all existing DIFC Wills to be amended so as to extend the jurisdiction to reflect assets in other Emirates or global assets, at no additional cost between June 30 and August 29, 2019. (However this can only be done provided an appointment is obtained in advance).

Another important change relates to the execution of a DIFC Will under the Rules, as going forward with effect from 30th June 2019, the Testator shall be responsible for providing two independent witnesses to witness the execution of a DIFC Will. Both witnesses must be over the age of 21 years and shall not be either a Beneficiary or a Guardian of any of the minor children specified in the will (or a spouse of a Beneficiary or a Guardian). 

In addition to these two significant new rules, there are a number of additional updates;  Do get in touch with me should you wish to learn more about a DIFC Will and how it can be used as part of an effective succession planning scheme protecting your assets and family.