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Guide: Wills and Estates ยท 4 minute read
Guardianship Will: What to Name, Who Signs and the Fees
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A guardianship will is a will that names the person you want to care for your children if you die. We draft the will and check every clause. You sign before our in-house notary public, in person at our Battuta Gate office, online or on a home visit.
WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790 and tell us who your children are and who you want to name.
What a Guardianship Will Covers
A guardianship will is part of a will, or a will of its own. It names a guardian for your minor children and can name a second choice if the first cannot act. It sits beside the rest of your wishes about your property and assets.
The notary's own step is plain: the notary checks the identity, capacity and consent of the people signing and applies the seal. The notary does not choose your guardian for you.
The catch most people miss is that a name alone is not enough. A good draft also records who the children are, who the guardian is, and what you want if the first choice is not available. We write these down in plain clauses so nobody has to guess.
Checklist
Guardianship Will Requirements: What to Decide First
Settle these points before the draft:
Who you want as guardian, and who as a second choice.
Your children's full names and dates of birth, as in their passports.
Whether you also want to name who manages property for the children.
Where the will will be registered.
Whether the other parent or family members know your choice.
Talk to the person you name before you sign. A will is not a good way for someone to learn they have been chosen.
If a dispute is likely, or a court must decide who cares for a child, you need a practising advocate. Representation before the courts is reserved to lawyers licensed in the UAE and on the Ministry of Justice roll, under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022. We prepare documents; we do not represent people in court.
Checklist
Guardianship Will Documents Required
Your passport or Emirates ID.
Each child's passport or birth certificate, to copy names and dates correctly.
The guardian's full name and passport details.
A list of your assets, if the will covers them.
Any earlier will you have made.
Guardianship Will Procedure
01
Tell us who your children are and who you want to name.
02
We draft the will and check every clause.
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We prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator. In Dubai, a notarised instrument is in Arabic, or comes with a certified Arabic translation signed with it, under Dubai Law No. 4 of 2013, Article 27. See the Dubai Legislation Portal.
04
You sign before our in-house notary public.
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You register the will with the registry you choose. The appointment is set with that registry.
Our pages explain the choice of registry: how to register a will in the UAE, the Dubai Courts will and the DIFC will. If you are not Muslim, read our page on a will for non Muslims in the UAE.
Watch for
Mistakes That Get a Guardianship Will Refused
01
Names that do not match the passports.
02
No second choice if the first guardian cannot act.
03
A will signed before the draft is final.
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A foreign document without its attestation chain.
05
Missing Arabic text where the registry needs it.
How We Prepare It
We draft the document, check every clause and prepare the Arabic text through a legal translator, and our in-house notary public notarises it. For a wider will, see our will writing service in Dubai. If typing is all you need, we will tell you so.
Prices
Guardianship Will Fees
| Item | Our service price | Government fee, paid on top at cost |
|---|---|---|
| Will, including a guardianship clause | from AED 4,000 | Registry fee, separate |
| Legal translation | from AED 50 per page | Set by the authority |
| Drafting or typing add-on | from AED 200 | None |
| Home visit | Quote on request | None |
All service prices are starting prices and are negotiable. Government fees are paid on top, at cost, exactly as the authority charges them. We confirm your final price before you pay.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
If your question is not here, ask it on WhatsApp. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it.
How much does a guardianship will cost?
A will starts from AED 4,000, and the registry fee is separate. Translation starts from AED 50 per page. We confirm your final price before you pay.
How long does a guardianship will take?
It depends on how ready your decisions are and on the registry's appointment availability. We do not promise a fixed time. Tell us what you have decided and we say what is left.
What documents are required for a guardianship will?
You need your passport or Emirates ID, the children's passports or birth certificates, and the guardian's full details. Bring a list of assets if the will covers them. We tell you if the registry you choose asks for more.
Can a guardianship will be done online?
Our in-house notary public can see you online, in person at our office or on a home visit. The registry you choose may have its own rules, so we tell you what to expect before you book.
Does the guardianship will pick the guardian in court?
No. The will records your wish. If a court must decide, or someone challenges your choice, you need a practising advocate.
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Start Your Guardianship Will
Call or WhatsApp +971 52 484 1790, or email support@notariolawyersuae.com. Tell us what the document is for and who will sign it, and we will reply with what it needs and a starting price.
Office open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. WhatsApp and online requests answered 24/7. You will find us on the 10th floor, Battuta Gate offices, Dubai, UAE. You can also message us on WhatsApp.
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