Lawgical with Ludmila

What happens when someone passes away leaving a foreign will and assets in the UAE? Even with a valid will, heirs may face unexpected legal and procedural challenges before they can inherit property, bank accounts or company shares. In this episode of Lawgical with Ludmila, Ludmila Yamalova explains the process of enforcing foreign wills in the UAE, drawing on real inheritance cases involving Scotland, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine and the United States. The discussion covers: The difference between foreign wills that can be enforced directly and those requiring separate inheritance proceedings. The two main legal pathways: a writ of execution and proceedings before the Estates Court. Common obstacles, including missing original documents, conflicting wills, discrepancies in family records and legalisation requirements. How religion, marital status, applicable inheritance laws and disputes between heirs can affect proceedings. Practical lessons from real cases involving foreign court orders, trusts, UAE property and non-resident heirs. The steps involved in obtaining court orders and transferring inherited assets in the UAE. Why preparing a UAE will can simplify inheritance matters for families with assets in the country. Whether you are an expatriate with assets in the UAE, an executor managing a cross-border estate or an heir navigating inheritance proceedings, this episode provides practical insights into the challenges of enforcing foreign wills and the importance of effective estate planning. For more information, visit www.lylawyers.com.

Can your employer ask whether you see a psychiatrist, take medication or receive treatment for a mental health condition? What happens when mental health affects attendance, performance or a termination dispute? In this episode of Lawgical, Ludmila Yamalova examines mental health at work in the UAE, focusing on private-sector employment governed by the federal Labour Law. She explains the overlapping employment, healthcare, privacy and criminal laws that shape these issues, and discusses the distinction between an employer’s interest in fitness for work and an employee’s private medical information. Drawing on examples from legal practice, Ludmila discusses extended stress leave, medical explanations for performance concerns, the sharing of psychiatric information at work, and the different requirements that apply when medical fitness is a condition of professional licensing. Topics Discussed What mental health means, including the distinction between everyday usage and the Mental Health Law’s protection of psychiatric patients. The scope of the federal Labour Law and the separate employment frameworks for DIFC, ADGM, government employees and domestic workers. Sick leave entitlements, medical documentation and Dubai Health Authority certificate procedures. Confidentiality under mental health, medical liability, health information, data protection and criminal legislation. When mental health becomes relevant to attendance, performance, conduct and requests for flexibility. Termination with notice, dismissal without notice, discrimination and medical unfitness. Medical fitness and disclosure requirements in aviation and other regulated roles. Practical responsibilities for employees, employers and managers handling medical information. Seven workplace scenarios illustrating how these issues can arise.

Is surrogacy legal in the UAE? The removal of an express federal prohibition in 2023 opened the door, but the legal position remains more nuanced than headlines suggest. In this episode of Lawgical, Ludmila Yamalova explains the UAE’s evolving surrogacy framework, Abu Dhabi’s operational pathway, and the legal and financial considerations intended parents should understand before proceeding. The discussion covers: Gestational versus traditional surrogacy and restrictions on donor eggs and sperm. Eligibility requirements for intended parents and surrogates. Abu Dhabi’s approval process, treatment requirements, and birth registration. The position in Dubai and other emirates. Parentage, custody, inheritance, nationality, and recognition abroad. Agency fees, surrogate compensation, insurance, and contractual risks. Anonymity, lifestyle restrictions, and the limits of contractual control. Moving embryos across borders and pursuing surrogacy abroad. The episode also compares birth-registration approaches in other jurisdictions and explains why careful documentation and legal advice matter from the outset. Find more legal insights at lylawyers.com. Listen to Lawgical on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the video podcast on YouTube.

What are real estate agents in Dubai legally responsible for, and what happens when a property deal goes wrong? In this episode of Lawgical, U.S.-qualified lawyer Ludmila Yamalova explores the legal framework governing real estate agents in the UAE, with a particular focus on Dubai. She explains the duties agents owe buyers and sellers, the limits of their role, and how disputes over commissions, deposit cheques, and property transactions can arise. Drawing on practical examples and court cases, Ludmila discusses: The different layers of UAE and Dubai laws governing real estate brokerage. Licensing requirements and the consequences of unlicensed brokerage. Disclosure duties, conflicts of interest, and representing one or both parties. RERA Forms A, B, F, I, and U, and the importance of written brokerage agreements. Commission entitlement, payment terms, and disputes when transactions fall through. How MOUs, booking forms, emails, and WhatsApp messages can form part of a contractual arrangement. Property advertising permits, QR codes, and social media requirements. Due diligence before marketing or investing in off-plan properties. Agents’ responsibilities when holding deposit cheques and handling payment instructions. Brokerage liability, employment disputes, and where complaints may be resolved. Anti-money laundering obligations, third-party payments, and crypto transactions. Whether you are an agent, buyer, seller, or investor, this episode explains why understanding the rules matters, and how compliance helps protect both individual transactions and confidence in Dubai’s real estate market. Find more legal insights at lylawyers.com. Listen to Lawgical on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the video podcast on YouTube.

Who owns and controls the common areas of a jointly owned property in Dubai? What rights do individual property owners have, and what happens when they disagree with a developer or management company? In this episode of Lawgical, Ludmila Yamalova examines the legal framework governing jointly owned properties in Dubai. She explains how the UAE Constitution, the UAE Civil Transactions Law, Dubai real estate laws, the Eight Principles of Dubai, and RERA regulations collectively shape the rights and protections available to property owners and investors. The episode also explores the roles of owners’ committees, management companies, developers, the Dubai Land Department and RERA. It considers recurring concerns involving service charges, access to financial records, conflicts of interest, management-company performance and the limited legal standing currently available to owners’ committees. Topics covered include: What constitutes jointly owned property in Dubai Ownership of common areas and undivided shares The hierarchy of federal and Dubai real estate laws The relevance of the Eight Principles of Dubai The roles of the Dubai Land Department and RERA The rights and responsibilities of property owners The function and limitations of owners’ committees The role of developers following property handover Service charges, audited budgets and segregated accounts Conflicts of interest involving management companies The process for replacing a management company The jurisdiction of the Rental Disputes Center Complaints involving government authorities The legal remedies available when owners’ concerns remain unresolved The central principle is that owners hold genuine interests in the common parts of their communities and should be able to manage those interests collectively. Management companies act as service providers, while regulators and legal procedures are intended to protect property ownership, investor confidence and the integrity of Dubai’s real estate market.