Wills

When I speak with clients, I encourage them to consider questions such as:

• How do I want my assets to be distributed after my death?
• Who should inherit from my estate, and in what proportion?
• Do I want to make specific provisions for my children?
• Do I need to appoint guardians for minors?
• Should I have separate wills in different countries?
• Does my spouse need a will as well?

If you don’t keep an up-to-date will, it’s entirely possible that your assets will not be distributed the way you intended. The only way to ensure your wishes are followed is to have your will prepared by competent professionals.

Effective financial planning requires a multi-disciplinary approach.

There’s little point in spending years building wealth if those assets aren’t protected in a way that reflects your wishes. Estate planning is about ensuring that what you’ve worked hard for is passed on according to your intentions, not left to chance.

A well-drafted will ensures that your assets are handled exactly as you intend. You can specify who inherits what, and in what proportions, giving you full control and peace of mind.

Beyond clarity, a will can also reduce — or in some cases remove — inheritance tax liabilities, particularly where a foreign spouse is involved. It also helps ensure your estate is distributed efficiently, avoiding unnecessary delays for your loved ones.

When reviewing your estate planning, it’s worth considering additional elements such as life assurance or trust structures to create a complete, integrated strategy.

For all of these reasons, I strongly recommend seeking professional advice from a qualified specialist who can coordinate these aspects into one cohesive plan. Where appropriate, I can connect you with trusted experts to assist with will preparation, inheritance tax planning, and trust structuring.

Why Proper Planning Matters

As an expatriate, your financial situation is often far more complex than if you had remained in your home country. You might own property or hold assets in multiple jurisdictions — each governed by its own inheritance and tax laws.

For example:

• Property or cash held abroad may be treated very differently to assets at home.
• Having a foreign spouse can affect how your estate is taxed, potentially creating liabilities in more than one country.
• Your children might hold citizenship or residency in yet another country, further complicating matters.

Given these layers of complexity, there is no universal approach to succession planning. Every person’s situation is unique, which is why it’s essential to have your assets protected by properly prepared wills — or at the very least, letters of wishes — in every country where you hold significant assets.

The Complexity Of Expatriate Estates

Protect Your Assets in the Event of Your Death