Islamic will (wasiyya) in Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania'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 Pennsylvania

• Your home: Pennsylvania has no transfer-on-death deed law. Pennsylvania has no transfer-on-death deed law; check with a local attorney about alternatives.
• Small estates: Estates of $50,000 or less (not counting certain items) can be settled by a small estate petition to the Orphans' Court (20 Pa.C.S. 3102).

Sources: Cumberland County - Small estate petition checklist

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