Inheritance & Estates Lawyers in Jeddah

Inheritance & Estates Lawyer in Jeddah

Dividing any estate begins with "determining the heirs": an official court document identifying the legal heirs and their relationship to the deceased, which forms the basis for every later step in transferring ownership and the estate.

Why we don't offer ready-made percentages or a calculator

Each heir's share depends on which heirs are living and their degree of relation, cases of full or partial exclusion, differing treatment between male and female heirs by relationship, and any valid will within the permitted third. Any generic percentage may not apply at all to your specific situation.

Hajb (exclusion): why not every relative necessarily inherits

The principle of hajb in Islamic jurisprudence means barring an heir from inheriting entirely, or reducing their share, because a closer-degree heir exists. For example, the presence of a mother fully excludes all grandmothers (hajb hirman), and the presence of a son fully excludes a brother, while the presence of a lineal descendant (such as a son) reduces the husband's share from half to a quarter (hajb nuqsan, a reduction rather than full exclusion). This is precisely why we don't offer a generic calculator: every case needs the actually closer heirs among the living identified first, before any share can be calculated.

The obligatory bequest and the one-third limit

A deceased person may bequeath up to one-third of their estate to a non-heir party or person (such as a charity, or a grandchild who doesn't inherit because their parent died before the grandparent), and this bequest is executed before distributing the remainder to the legal heirs, after the deceased's debts are settled first. Any bequest exceeding one-third needs the explicit consent of all adult heirs to take effect beyond that limit; otherwise its execution is capped at the one-third ceiling.

A guardianship deed for minor heirs: an additional step when needed

If a minor (under eighteen) is among the heirs, a special guardianship deed must be obtained, fixing who administers their share of the estate on their behalf until they come of age, to protect their right from being dealt with without judicial oversight. The absence of this deed can later hold up transferring ownership of real estate or registered assets held in the minor's name, even where the remaining adult heirs have reached a mutual agreement.

Our service in inheritance matters

• Filing the heir-determination request through Najiz and following it through to the official document
• Precisely inventorying the estate's assets and debts (real estate, accounts, investments)
• Representing you in any dispute among heirs over the determination, asset valuation, or division
• Drafting and formalizing a consensual division among heirs when agreement exists, saving the time and cost of litigation

Working with us

1. You provide details on the deceased and potential heirs, plus any available documents
2. We file the heir-determination process and follow it through to the official document
3. We clarify your actual share and help with ownership transfer or resolving any dispute

To discuss a family estate with complete confidentiality in Jeddah, reach out to us on WhatsApp.

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