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ARTICLE · 03 NOVEMBER 2026

Making Your Wills Speak The Same Language

Wedlake Bell LLP
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International estate planning requires careful coordination when assets, family members, or personal connections span multiple countries. Understanding how different jurisdictions handle will validity, asset ownership, trusts, and taxation is essential to avoid unintended consequences and ensure your estate plan works as intended across borders.

United KingdomFamily and Matrimonial
Clare Armitage
Clare Armitage
Andrew McIntyre
Andrew McIntyre

When it comes to international estate planning, making your Wills speak the same language is about far more than translation. Whether it be the location of assets, personal backgrounds or the residence of family members, international connections pose traps for the unwary. This article summarises some of the points to consider when you have multiple Wills covering assets in different jurisdictions.

Formal validity

Will the Will be accepted as a validly executed document in the country in question? 

Many assume that an English form Will with two witnesses is always enough to cover assets in England and Wales. Whilst it is often true, it is not always the case, particularly if the person making the Will is non-UK resident and a non-UK national. Solutions are available, but this is one point to watch out for.

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