Create a bespoke document in minutes,聽or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership聽of your information
Letter of Administration
I need a Letter of Administration to be issued for the estate of a deceased relative, granting me the legal authority to manage and distribute their assets according to UAE inheritance laws. The document should include details of the deceased, the estate's assets, and my responsibilities as the administrator.
What is a Letter of Administration?
A Letter of Administration is a court-issued document that gives someone legal authority to handle a deceased person's estate in the UAE when they died without a valid will. The Dubai Courts or Abu Dhabi Judicial Department typically grants this letter to the closest living relative, allowing them to manage assets, settle debts, and distribute property according to UAE inheritance laws.
Under UAE Personal Status Law, this document proves the administrator's right to access bank accounts, transfer property titles, and make decisions about the deceased's business interests. It's especially important in the UAE's multicultural environment, where both local Sharia principles and international estate considerations often come into play.
When should you use a Letter of Administration?
You need a Letter of Administration when handling the estate of someone who died without a will in the UAE. This becomes urgent when dealing with banks, property transfers, or business interests - many UAE institutions require this document before allowing access to the deceased's accounts or assets.
Time matters here: applying for the Letter through UAE courts soon after a death helps prevent asset freezes and keeps estate settlement moving. It's particularly crucial in cases involving joint business ownership, ongoing contracts, or when family members live abroad, as UAE inheritance laws follow specific Sharia-based distribution rules that differ from other jurisdictions.
What are the different types of Letter of Administration?
- Standard Letter: Issued for straightforward estates with UAE-based assets and heirs residing in the Emirates
- International Letter: Special version when the deceased owned assets abroad or had foreign heirs, including additional embassy attestations
- Limited Letter: Restricts the administrator's powers to specific assets or transactions, common in complex business situations
- Joint Letter: Issued when multiple administrators are appointed to manage the estate together, typically for large family businesses
- Temporary Letter: Grants emergency administrative powers while a permanent administrator is being determined
Who should typically use a Letter of Administration?
- Court Officials: Issue and validate Letters of Administration through UAE courts, ensuring compliance with local inheritance laws
- Family Members: Apply for and receive administrative powers, typically the closest living relative according to Sharia law
- Legal Representatives: Guide families through the application process and help administrators fulfill their duties
- Banks and Financial Institutions: Require the Letter before releasing deceased's accounts or assets to administrators
- Property Registrars: Process property transfers based on the Letter's authority
- Business Partners: Rely on the Letter when dealing with deceased's business interests or shares
How do you write a Letter of Administration?
- Death Certificate: Obtain official death certificate from UAE authorities, with Arabic translation if needed
- Family Documentation: Gather marriage certificates, birth certificates, and proof of relationship to deceased
- Asset Inventory: List all UAE-based assets, including bank accounts, properties, and business interests
- Heir Identification: Document all potential heirs according to Sharia law succession rules
- Court Application: Submit application to local court with required documents and fees
- Legal Declaration: Prepare statement confirming no valid will exists and willingness to administer estate
- Translation Requirements: Ensure all non-Arabic documents have legal translations
What should be included in a Letter of Administration?
- Court Details: Official header with issuing court name, case number, and date of issuance
- Deceased Information: Full legal name, Emirates ID, date of death, and last known address
- Administrator Details: Full name, Emirates ID, relationship to deceased, and contact information
- Scope of Authority: Clear description of administrative powers granted under UAE law
- Asset Listing: Comprehensive inventory of known estate assets within UAE jurisdiction
- Legal Declaration: Statement confirming absence of valid will and compliance with Sharia law
- Official Signatures: Court stamp, judge's signature, and authentication details
- Expiry Terms: Validity period and any specific conditions or limitations
What's the difference between a Letter of Administration and a Letter of Authority?
A Letter of Administration differs significantly from a Letter of Authority in UAE legal practice. While both documents grant someone power to act on behalf of others, their contexts and scope vary considerably.
- Timing of Issue: Letters of Administration are issued after death, while Letters of Authority can be created during someone's lifetime
- Issuing Authority: Courts must issue Letters of Administration; Letters of Authority can be created privately between parties
- Scope of Powers: Letters of Administration cover comprehensive estate management under Sharia law, while Letters of Authority typically focus on specific transactions or decisions
- Duration: Letters of Administration last until estate settlement completes; Letters of Authority often have defined expiry dates
- Legal Requirements: Letters of Administration need court verification and follow strict inheritance rules; Letters of Authority have more flexible formatting and witnessing requirements
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
骋别苍颈别鈥檚 Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here鈥檚 how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; 骋别苍颈别鈥檚 AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a 拢1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.