International Estate Plans

Creating an international will or trust requires more than simply extending a Florida estate plan—it involves coordinating multiple legal systems to ensure your wishes are recognized and enforceable wherever your assets and beneficiaries are located.

The process begins with a comprehensive review of your global footprint, including where you reside, hold citizenship, own property, maintain financial accounts, and expect assets to pass. Different countries apply different rules, and some impose forced heirship requirements that limit how assets can be distributed. Others may not recognize certain estate planning tools at all—most notably, some jurisdictions do not fully recognize trusts.

From there, we determine the most effective structure. In some cases, a single international will—drafted to comply with the Hague Convention on the Form of Testamentary Dispositions—may be appropriate. In others, it is safer and more efficient to use multiple coordinated wills, each tailored to a specific country, to avoid conflicts, delays, or unintended revocation. Trust planning may also be used, but only where the relevant jurisdictions will recognize and enforce the structure.

We create a unique team for each client's needs, and can work closely with foreign attorneys, accountants, and financial institutions to ensure compliance with local laws, including tax regimes, reporting requirements, and inheritance rules. This coordination is critical to avoid issues such as double taxation, probate delays, or assets being distributed contrary to your intentions.

The goal of international estate planning is to create a clear, enforceable, and efficient plan across all jurisdictions involved—one that minimizes risk, reduces administrative burden on your family, and ensures your wishes are carried out globally.