A UAE will registered today may not accurately reflect your wishes in five years. Life changes: people marry, divorce, have children, acquire property, lose family members, and accumulate new assets. Each of these changes is a reason to review your will, and some of them are reasons to update it urgently.
When You Must Update Your UAE Will
- Marriage, your existing will may not adequately provide for a new spouse
- Divorce, you may no longer want your former spouse to inherit
- Birth or adoption of a child, a new dependent may need to be included
- Death of a beneficiary, if a primary beneficiary dies, their share needs to be redistributed
- Death of your executor, a new executor should be appointed
- Major change in assets, buying property, starting a business, or large investment
- Moving Emirates or countries, your assets and their locations change
- A beneficiary becomes incapacitated, financial arrangements may need restructuring
Can You Add a Codicil to a UAE Will?
In many common law jurisdictions, a codicil (an amendment document attached to a will) is a standard tool. In the UAE, the situation is more complex. The ADJD does not simply accept a codicil as a routine update, in practice, any material change to a registered will typically requires the registration of a new will.
The new will automatically supersedes the previous one. OwnX can prepare the revised draft and certified translation; you then complete re-registration directly with the authority.
Does Divorce Automatically Change My Will?
No. UAE law does not automatically alter a registered will on divorce. If your will leaves your estate to your former spouse and you do not update it after divorce, your former spouse may still inherit. This is one of the most critical post-divorce estate planning actions.
Divorce does not revoke a UAE will. If your ex-spouse is named as your beneficiary or executor, update your will immediately after divorce proceedings are finalised.
How Long Does Updating Take?
OwnX prepares the revised document and certified translation before you submit it for re-registration. ADJD registration is completed online and requires a fresh video verification call with the court.
Set a Will Review Date
Beyond specific life events, set a standing review date, every 2–3 years, to ensure your will still reflects your current wishes, assets, and family situation. OwnX sends reminder emails to clients to prompt regular reviews.
Need to update your UAE will? OwnX can prepare the revised draft and certified translation from AED 749, ready for you to re-register.
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Aanchal Adhikari (Advocate, LL.B., LL.M. (Cand.))
Senior Specialist & UAE Estate Planning Advocate
Aanchal Adhikari is a Nepal-licensed Advocate with 4+ years of legal practice, specialized in ADJD Wills, DIFC wills, and UAE inheritance. She has drafted and overseen 800+ ADJD Wills in the UAE and is currently pursuing an LL.M. at Middlesex University Dubai.
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