Wills and inheritance
In England and Wales, die without a will and the intestacy rules decide who inherits. They take no account of Islamic shares.
What to do, in order
List what you have
Include your home, savings, investments, pensions and life cover, and how each is owned.
Speak to a specialist
A solicitor or specialist can write a valid will, and a scholar can help with the shares.
Check what passes outside it
Jointly owned homes, pensions and life cover can follow their own rules or a nomination form.
The details
What an Islamic will tries to do
Debts and funeral costs generally come first. A bequest of up to one third can usually go to people who aren’t fixed heirs, or to charity. The rest is divided among heirs according to the fixed shares.
It must still be valid
A document can follow Islamic principles and still fail legally if it’s signed or witnessed incorrectly.
Young children
A will is where you can name who’d look after them.
General information, not legal advice. Your will should be written with a solicitor or specialist who knows your circumstances, and a scholar can help with the shares. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland.