Our Practice
An office built around estate matters that last.
Waris Merbau was set up to handle one area of law carefully rather than many areas at once. Estate and inheritance work requires patience, local knowledge, and a willingness to explain things as many times as a family needs.
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How Waris Merbau came to be
The name comes from the merbau tree — a hardwood native to this part of Borneo, known for its density and durability. It was chosen deliberately. Estate work asks the same things of a legal office: steadiness, patience, and the ability to hold up under pressure when a family is going through something difficult.
The office opened in Kuching to serve families dealing with estate matters in Sarawak specifically. Legal practice in this state has particular features — land legislation, customary tenure questions, and court procedures that do not always mirror what applies in Peninsular Malaysia. Working exclusively in this area means the office has a clear picture of what each step involves and how long it typically takes.
Most families come to us having lost someone. The paperwork that follows a death is rarely welcome, and the timelines involved can feel long. The office tries to remove uncertainty where it can: setting out costs clearly at the start, explaining what the active work involves versus what is simply waiting on a court, and writing summaries that a family can read and share without needing a lawyer beside them.
Our Mission
What we set out to do
Handle estate matters properly
Not quickly, not loosely. Properly — with the court, the registry, and the family all accounted for at each stage.
Communicate clearly throughout
Families should not have to wonder what is happening with their matter. Updates distinguish active work from waiting periods, and every question gets a plain answer.
Stay grounded in Sarawak law
Sarawak's legal landscape for estates has its own rules. The office works within them, not around them, and explains the relevant differences to every client from the outset.
The People
Who Handles Your Matter
Roslan bin Arif
Principal Advocate & Solicitor
Called to the Sarawak Bar with over eighteen years in estate and succession work. Handles probate applications and contested matters personally, and attends all court appearances for the office.
Linda Yong
Associate Solicitor
Focuses on letters of administration and estate position reviews. Works closely with beneficiaries and administrators through every stage of the matter, from document gathering to grant extraction.
Hamidah Mokhtar
Legal Clerk & Registry Liaison
Manages correspondence with the Probate Registry and High Court, tracks filing deadlines, and keeps families informed of where their matter stands in the queue at any given point.
How We Work
Standards the Office Holds Itself To
Sarawak Bar Membership
All advocates hold current practising certificates issued by the Sarawak Bar and are subject to its professional rules and disciplinary procedures.
Written Fee Disclosure
A written breakdown of office fees and anticipated disbursements is provided before any chargeable work begins. Nothing is added later without prior discussion.
Client Confidentiality
All information shared with the office is held in confidence in accordance with the Legal Profession Act and the office's own data handling procedures.
Regular Progress Updates
The office contacts clients whenever the status of their matter changes and at regular intervals in between, without waiting to be asked. Updates distinguish active steps from court waiting periods.
Family-Accessible Documentation
Written summaries and position notes are prepared in plain language so they can be read, understood, and shared among family members without professional assistance.
Impartial Advice in Disputes
In contested matters, the office gives an honest assessment of the evidence early on, including where a negotiated resolution would be more appropriate than litigation.
Our Expertise
Estate Practice in Sarawak — What the Work Involves
Dealing with a deceased person's estate in Sarawak follows a particular legal path, depending on whether a will was left, what type of assets the estate holds, and whether all interested parties agree on how the estate should be dealt with. For most families, the process begins with understanding which documents are required and which court has jurisdiction.
In Sarawak, the High Court at Kuching handles probate and administration matters for the state. The schedule of assets filed with every application must reflect what the deceased held at the time of death, including property, accounts, vehicles, and any other items of value. Preparing this schedule accurately at the start avoids delays later when the court or registry seeks clarification.
Where a surety is required — typically in letters of administration matters — the office explains who can act in that capacity and what the obligation involves, so families can make that arrangement without difficulty.
Sarawak land law adds a layer of consideration when the estate includes native customary rights land or property held under the Sarawak Land Code. The procedures for transferring or dealing with such land through an estate differ from those that apply to freehold or leasehold property, and the office accounts for these differences from the outset.
For families where disagreement arises — about the validity of a will, about the treatment of a particular beneficiary, or about how assets should be distributed — the contested matters process begins with an honest assessment of the evidence. Some disputes are better resolved by agreement than by a hearing, and the office sets that out plainly when it is the case.
The Estate Position Review is designed for families at an earlier stage — those who are not yet sure whether action is needed, or who want a written record of where things stand before making any decisions. It is a low-commitment starting point that often clarifies the path forward.
Speak with the Team
We are happy to answer questions before you decide whether to engage us.
A short call or email is often enough to understand what a family's situation involves and which service would suit them.
Contact the Office