Islamic will (wasiyya) in Virginia

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 Virginia

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 Virginia'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 Virginia

• Your home: Virginia allows a transfer-on-death deed, so a home can pass to the people you name without probate. Virginia allows transfer-on-death deeds (Va. Code 64.2-621 and following).
• Small estates: Personal probate estates up to $75,000 can use a small estate affidavit 60 days after death (Va. Code 64.2-601).

Sources: Va. Code 64.2-601 · Va. Code 64.2-621

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