ARTICLE
14 March 2016

UAE Family Matters Q&A: Can I Sign Government Documents On My Husband's Behalf?

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Dr. Hassan Elhais

Contributor

Dr. Hassan Elhais, a long-standing member of the prestigious Amal Alrashedi Lawyers & Legal Consultants, is a renowned legal consultant in the UAE, specializing in family law, criminal law, civil law, company incorporation, construction law, banking law, inheritance law, and arbitration. Dr. Elhais has gained wide recognition in the country, winning numerous awards and accolades. He was declared the Legal Consultant of the Year in 2026 by Leaders in Law. He was also elected as the co-chair of the ‘Relocation of Children Committee’ of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), a worldwide association of practicing lawyers, widely regarded as the most experienced and skilled family law specialists in their respective countries. Dr. Hassan Elhais’s continued recognition in the 2025 Chambers and Partners rankings for Family/Matrimonial services to High-Net-Worth individuals in the UAE from 2022-2025.
In this event, your lawyer will need to draft an agreement between you and your husband before his leaving the country.
United Arab Emirates Family and Matrimonial
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I am an expat woman and am afraid that my husband will leave the country and not come back. I need his signature on many government documents. What can I do?

In this event, your lawyer will need to draft an agreement between you and your husband before his leaving the country. This agreement will authorise you to sign on behalf of your husband on all government documents pertaining to your child. This agreement will be accepted by all government authorities provided it is adequately signed.

This contract or agreement between you and your husband would need to be signed in the UAE family courts. The average time for this procedure is between one and two months.

My husband is asking me to leave the house and is refusing to pay me any money. What are my options?

In the event that your husband is refusing to pay you any money, you have the right to file a financial support claim through the family courts in the UAE. However, such claims can take up to a year to be decided. In such instances, further to Article 68 of Law number 28 of 2005, it is advised to apply for an immediate court order for financial support to get expenses and money for the entire tenure of the court process until a decision is reached in the case.

It is also important to mention that you have the right to live in your husband's home for three months after divorce if you do not have any children. In the event that you do have children, you have the right to demand to move to another house, provided by your husband, or to get the rental value of rented accommodation from your husband or former husband.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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