Modern Muslim Succession Planning

Angela Calnan notes that many modern Middle Eastern families are looking offshore to avoid the forced-heirship provisions of Shari'a law

Having lived and worked in the UAE for a number of years and now back practising in Guernsey, Collas Crill's Angela Calnan has significant experience in assisting Middle Eastern families with succession planning in the Channel Islands.

Here she talks about the spectrum of attitudes to compliance with Shari'a law and the use of Guernsey's anti-forced heirship provisions to assist Muslim clients who require flexible succession planning.

The Shari'a-compliant trust

The majority of new client meetings involving Muslim families in the UAE, and, indeed, the wider Gulf region – whether led by the family, their private banker or the family office – begin by considering a Shari'a-compliant trust when discussions turn to asset protection and succession planning.