- Intestacy Law - the law that decides how assets are transferred and creditors satisfied if a person passes on without leaving a will.
- Administrator - a person appointed by the family/court to administer the estate of a deceased person who left no will.
- Sureties - usually mean guarantors.
- Executor/Wasi - a person appointed by a will-maker to execute the terms of a will.
- Movable Assets - computer, jewellery, vehicles, artworks, etc.
- Immovable Assets - real estates/property.
- Quranic Heirs - heirs who are entitled to get a prescribed share from the heritable property.
- Beneficiaries - the descendants that will receive the inheritance.
- Issues - usually mean children.
So what happens to your possessions when you die without leaving a will?
Source: Rockwills
If you die (touch wood) without leaving a will, your death will be classed as “intestate”. In other words, you have died without leaving instructions about who should receive how much of your estate(s) (a law term for your worldly possessions) This include your savings in all of your bank accounts, properties, and any other assets that you own at the time of your death.
This doesn’t include your EPF or insurance policies as the monies will go to whoever you have nominated in your respective EPF account and insurance policies as they are governed under a different act (set of laws passed by parliament).
When this happens, the intestacy laws will determine how your estates are distributed. In Malaysia, Muslims and non-Muslims are governed under different sets of inheritance laws. Below are the details:
Here’s what will happen to your estates/assets if you’re a Muslim
1. Your estates will be frozen until the case is settled.
2. Your family needs to apply for the Faraid Certificate from the Shariah Court, which will contain the information on the value of the estate, the names of the eligible beneficiaries and the proportions of each of the beneficiaries. This process will usually take 5 working days.
3. Then, all the Quranic Heirs (Ashabul Furud) must have a mutual agreement to choose the same Administrator. It needs to be in written form and verified by the Magistrate / Commissioner for Oaths.
4. Your wealth will be distributed based on Shariah Law. The process of wealth distribution is the same as when you have a legal Wasiat (equivalent to will). The priority will be given to the provisions of your funeral expenses followed by the payment of outstanding debts including zakat, uncompleted hajj, and Nazar (solemn pledge). Only after these payments have been made can the remainder of your estates be distributed among your beneficiaries according to the Faraid (Islamic inheritance law). Take a look at the chart below to learn more about how much of your beneficiaries are legally entitled to according to the Faraid.
Source: Malaysian Financial Planning Council
5. If the beneficiaries are below 18 years old or are disabled, their share will be deposited in the Trust Account at AmanahRaya and may be claimed when they reach the age of 18 or the age agreed in the Deed of Trust.
6. If you don’t have a living family member (a lone ranger) and none is claiming your estates, it will all be given to the Baitumal (Islamic financial institute).
7. Before distributing your wealth, your beneficiaries will have to apply to the High Court for Letters of Administration (LA). Depending on the estate’s or asset ’s value, they can also apply for the LA at the District Land Administrator office or Amanah Rakyat Berhad. On top of that, the Administrator will need to find 2 sureties who can guarantee the same value of assets as yours. This generally takes about 6 to 9 months.
8. These sureties have a duty to ensure that your estates will be properly distributed and the accounts properly rendered. In case the administrator runs away with your monies (pish of shish), the sureties will be required to pay the lost amount to the rightful beneficiaries.
9. Sureties are not required if the gross value of your estates is RM600,000 and lower. Your wealth will be distributed by:
| Movable Assets | Immovable Assets |
|---|---|
| by Amanah Rakyat Berhad under section 17 of the Public Trust Corporation Act 1995, who can administer your estate without the need for sureties or guarantors. | by District Land Administrator under Small Estate (Distribution) Act 1955. A Distribution Order will be issued and no sureties or guarantors are required. |
10. Additionally, no sureties are needed if a trust corporation is appointed as the administrator; or if the administrator is the sole beneficiary.
1. Your Estates will be frozen until the case is settled.
2. Your family members must appoint an Administrator. This decision needs consent from all family members involved by signing the Renunciation of Administration letter, to be witnessed by the Magistrate / Commissioner for Oaths.
3. The process of wealth distribution is the same as when you have a valid will. The priority will be given to the provision of your funeral expenses. Then, the provision shall be made to the creditors/outstanding debts. Lastly, the balance of your estates will go to the beneficiaries based on Distribution Act 1958 (amended in 1997) for West Malaysia and Sarawak, while the Intestate Succession Ordinance 1968 is used for Sabah.
Source: Ironwills
4. The court may appoint a guardian for your children who are still minors (children below 18 years old, who may or may not be to your preference. This doesn’t mean that they’ll have total control of your wealth, however. The guardian will still need to obtain the court’s approval each time he/she intends to withdraw or use your money for the (hopefully) cost of raising and education of your children.
5. Before distributing your wealth, your beneficiaries will have to apply to the High Court for Letters of Administration (LA). Depending on the assets’ value, they can also apply for the LA at the District Land Administrator office or Amanah Rakyat Berhad. On top of that, the Administrator will need to find 2 sureties who can guarantee the same value of assets as yours. This generally takes about 6 to 9 months.
6. These sureties have a duty to ensure that your estates will be properly distributed and the accounts properly rendered. In case the administrator runs away with your monies (greedy bish), the sureties will have to bear the responsibilities of refunding the loss.
7. Sureties are not needed if your estates have a gross value of less than or equal to RM600,000. Your wealth will be distributed by:
Take note that without a will, the process could take about 2 to 5 years or more (that’s a longgggg time) depending on the complexity of the case. Also, note that if there’s a financial recession, this can significantly affect the value of your estates. For time-sensitive assets like stock holdings, the value might depreciate by the time legal ownership is transferred to your loved ones.
This is usually one of the reasons why people don’t write a will. You too can choose that route if you’re happy with the law dictating where your possessions would go.
Sure, maybe you only have RM50 in your bank account now, and you’re renting a room, have no car, no savings, no children whatsoever - so you don’t see the point of doing it. But what most people don’t know is that a will is not only about distributing your wealth, it can also be about other things.
Probably you have a collection of CDs that you wanted to give to your best friend, those plants that you wanted to give to your mother and that pile of clothes you want to donate when you pass into the hands of God - leaving a will might be the only way they can get these cherished earthly possessions of yours. Also, think about those journals that you never want your parents/bf/gf to find.
In your will, you can designate who will be your Executor/Wasi, the person with authority to make sure that all your possessions (no matter the value) end up in the right hands. It’s like your last wish and also a good closure for your loved ones.
Think about it. No one says it needs to be complicated.
No doubt, this is a morbid topic to talk about. However, the concept is similar to having a life or medical insurance, which is to be prepared for the worse. Don’t think about it as you inviting bad juju, you’re just being practical about death.
If you decide not to leave a will now, be sure to revisit the issue as your circumstances evolve. You know... just in case you have children, gain more wealth, develop health problems, or just reach a later stage in life.
And if you’re already planning to do so but haven’t acted on it, there are many banks and trust management companies that offer will writing services. For example, Maybank2U is offering online will writing at RM298. You can also go through Amanah Raya Berhad to write your will. The fee is a touch expensive, which is at a minimum of RM600 for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
One more thing, if you choose to go through a lawyer when writing your will, do make sure you engage one who specialises in the field to avoid future problems.
Here’s what will happen to your estates/assets if you’re a non-Muslim
1. Your Estates will be frozen until the case is settled.
2. Your family members must appoint an Administrator. This decision needs consent from all family members involved by signing the Renunciation of Administration letter, to be witnessed by the Magistrate / Commissioner for Oaths.
3. The process of wealth distribution is the same as when you have a valid will. The priority will be given to the provision of your funeral expenses. Then, the provision shall be made to the creditors/outstanding debts. Lastly, the balance of your estates will go to the beneficiaries based on Distribution Act 1958 (amended in 1997) for West Malaysia and Sarawak, while the Intestate Succession Ordinance 1968 is used for Sabah.
Source: Ironwills
4. The court may appoint a guardian for your children who are still minors (children below 18 years old, who may or may not be to your preference. This doesn’t mean that they’ll have total control of your wealth, however. The guardian will still need to obtain the court’s approval each time he/she intends to withdraw or use your money for the (hopefully) cost of raising and education of your children.
5. Before distributing your wealth, your beneficiaries will have to apply to the High Court for Letters of Administration (LA). Depending on the assets’ value, they can also apply for the LA at the District Land Administrator office or Amanah Rakyat Berhad. On top of that, the Administrator will need to find 2 sureties who can guarantee the same value of assets as yours. This generally takes about 6 to 9 months.
6. These sureties have a duty to ensure that your estates will be properly distributed and the accounts properly rendered. In case the administrator runs away with your monies (greedy bish), the sureties will have to bear the responsibilities of refunding the loss.
7. Sureties are not needed if your estates have a gross value of less than or equal to RM600,000. Your wealth will be distributed by:
| Movable Assets | Immovable Assets |
|---|---|
| by Amanah Rakyat Berhad under section 17 of the Public Trust Corporation Act 1995, who can administer your estate without the need for sureties or guarantors. | by District Land Administrator under Small Estate (Distribution) Act 1955. A Distribution Order will be issued and no sureties or guarantors are required. |
Take note that without a will, the process could take about 2 to 5 years or more (that’s a longgggg time) depending on the complexity of the case. Also, note that if there’s a financial recession, this can significantly affect the value of your estates. For time-sensitive assets like stock holdings, the value might depreciate by the time legal ownership is transferred to your loved ones.
I own almost nothing (read: I’m not rich), should I still leave a Will?
This is usually one of the reasons why people don’t write a will. You too can choose that route if you’re happy with the law dictating where your possessions would go.
Sure, maybe you only have RM50 in your bank account now, and you’re renting a room, have no car, no savings, no children whatsoever - so you don’t see the point of doing it. But what most people don’t know is that a will is not only about distributing your wealth, it can also be about other things.
Probably you have a collection of CDs that you wanted to give to your best friend, those plants that you wanted to give to your mother and that pile of clothes you want to donate when you pass into the hands of God - leaving a will might be the only way they can get these cherished earthly possessions of yours. Also, think about those journals that you never want your parents/bf/gf to find.
In your will, you can designate who will be your Executor/Wasi, the person with authority to make sure that all your possessions (no matter the value) end up in the right hands. It’s like your last wish and also a good closure for your loved ones.
Think about it. No one says it needs to be complicated.
So, will you leave a Will?
No doubt, this is a morbid topic to talk about. However, the concept is similar to having a life or medical insurance, which is to be prepared for the worse. Don’t think about it as you inviting bad juju, you’re just being practical about death.
If you decide not to leave a will now, be sure to revisit the issue as your circumstances evolve. You know... just in case you have children, gain more wealth, develop health problems, or just reach a later stage in life.
And if you’re already planning to do so but haven’t acted on it, there are many banks and trust management companies that offer will writing services. For example, Maybank2U is offering online will writing at RM298. You can also go through Amanah Raya Berhad to write your will. The fee is a touch expensive, which is at a minimum of RM600 for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
One more thing, if you choose to go through a lawyer when writing your will, do make sure you engage one who specialises in the field to avoid future problems.
