Guardianship for children.
This is the question almost nobody asks and every parent should. If both parents die or are incapacitated while resident in the UAE, guardianship of minor children is decided under local law, and the person you would have chosen has no automatic standing. Interim guardianship — who takes the children in the first hours — is a separate matter from permanent guardianship, and both can be arranged in advance.
What it covers
Interim guardians resident in the UAE who can act immediately. Permanent guardians who may be abroad. Instructions on schooling, religion, language and where the children should live. Provision for how the children are financially supported.
How it works
Registered as a guardianship-only will with the DIFC Wills Service, or as guardianship provisions within a full will. Both parents register. Naming a UAE-resident interim guardian is the part that matters most in practice.
What people get wrong
Without a UAE-resident interim guardian, children may be placed under state care while foreign relatives arrange travel and paperwork. It is a short period, but it is the period that matters.
What I do
- Audit what you hold and in whose name it is actually titled
- Establish what needs to change and in what order
- Coordinate drafting and registration through lawyers
- Arrange family access to funds in the first weeks
- Keep the arrangement current as circumstances change
From AED 15,000
DIFC Wills Service registration fees and legal drafting are separate and paid directly by the client.
Common questions
Why do I need a guardianship for children in the UAE?
This is the question almost nobody asks and every parent should.
What does it cover?
Interim guardians resident in the UAE who can act immediately. Permanent guardians who may be abroad. Instructions on schooling, religion, language and where the children should live. Provision for how the children are financially supported.
How does the process work?
Registered as a guardianship-only will with the DIFC Wills Service, or as guardianship provisions within a full will. Both parents register. Naming a UAE-resident interim guardian is the part that matters most in practice.
What do people get wrong?
Without a UAE-resident interim guardian, children may be placed under state care while foreign relatives arrange travel and paperwork. It is a short period, but it is the period that matters.
How much does it cost?
Coordination from AED 15,000. Registration fees at the DIFC Wills Service and legal drafting are separate and paid directly. A guardianship-only will costs less than a full will.
How long does it take?
Six to twelve weeks for a complete arrangement including drafting, review and registration. A guardianship-only will can be done considerably faster.
Reviewed by Denis Chernikov, Private Client Advisor, nine years in the UAE private client sector.
Describe your matter
Two or three sentences on the substance. I respond within one business day.