Dubai-based lawyer Barney Almazar answers the most common questions regarding your legal options in various cases related to living and working in the UAE.

  A reader asks:  My husband and I have been living in Dubai for almost 20 years. Through the years, we acquired properties such as an apartment in Dubai Silicon Oasis, vehicles, bank accounts and insurance policies. My husband is also a shareholder in a restaurant. We have two sons and three daughters. We are Catholics and do not want Sharia law to apply in the distribution of our properties. Please advise what we can do to protect these hard-earned properties.

Atty. Barney says: As early as now, I recommend that you and your husband prepare a last will and testament specifically stating that you do not wish Sharia law to apply.

Non-Muslim expatriates can have their last will and testament recognized by the UAE courts following the inheritance laws of their home country.

The last will and testament can be notarized at their respective consulate in the UAE or before the public notary. Your last will can include guardianship provisions for your children.

This column also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine. Do you have a question for Attorney Barney? Contact him at barney@gulflaw.info or know more about him here. Barney Almazar is a director at Gulf Law in the UAE, Philippines, UK and Portugal. He is a member of the Philippine Bar and holds a UAE legal consultancy license. He is listed by Thomsom Reuters as one of the Super 50 lawyers in the Middle East and North Africa. Asian Legal Business has ranked him as top lawyer in the Philippines, Southeast Asia and Middle East.