Islamic will (wasiyya) in Ohio

What your wasiyya (will) covers

• What you owe to Allah — zakat, Hajj, missed prayers and fasts, kaffara, and khums for Shia members.
• What you owe to people — debts and trusts (amanat).
• Your heirs' shares under the Qur'an, by the Sunni schools or the Jaʿfari school, as a guide for your executor.
• Up to one-third for the causes and people you choose, your executor, and guardians for young children.

Signing it so it holds up in Ohio

Each US state sets its own rules for signing a will. Most ask for your signature in front of two adult witnesses — safest if they inherit nothing under it — and some let you add a notarized "self-proving" statement so the witnesses needn't be found later. Read Ohio's will rules (FindLaw).

Your wasiyya (will) on Islamic Souls comes out as a PDF to print and sign, and you keep the signed copy on your private page so it's never lost.

Passing things on without probate in Ohio

• Your home: Ohio allows a transfer-on-death deed, so a home can pass to the people you name without probate. Ohio allows a transfer on death designation affidavit for real estate (R.C. 5302.22).
• Small estates: The probate court can release estates of $35,000 or less from administration ($100,000 if the spouse inherits everything) (R.C. 2113.03).
• Cars: A surviving spouse can take up to two cars worth a combined $65,000 outside the estate through the title office (R.C. 2106.18).

Sources: R.C. 2113.03 · R.C. 5302.22 · R.C. 2106.18

Members can ask a licensed estate attorney to prepare a trust or deed and write the Islamic shares into it. More about avoiding probate.