What documents are needed to get a succession certificate in the UAE?

To obtain a succession (legal heir) certificate in the UAE, courts generally require the deceased's death certificate, evidence of each claimant's relationship to the deceased (such as marriage and birth certificates or a family book), and valid identity documents for all heirs (Emirates ID or passports). Many courts also ask for witnesses who can attest to the family structure, and a list of the deceased's known assets. If any document was issued outside the UAE, it usually must be attested and translated into Arabic by a licensed legal translator. For a Muslim estate the personal status (Sharia) court applies faraid shares; for a non-Muslim, the civil personal status framework or a valid registered will may govern distribution. Exact checklists differ between emirates and between the personal status courts and the Ministry of Justice services, and they are updated from time to time. Confirm the current list with the competent court before filing. Verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI can help assemble, attest, and translate the file correctly the first time.