Originally published: December 3, 2014 | Last updated: January 22, 2026
TL;DR: There are four ways to write a Will as an expat: handwrite it (worst option), use a blank form kit (slightly better but still risky), hire a lawyer (high quality but expensive and logistically difficult for expats), or use an interactive online Will service like ExpatLegalWills.com (best combination of quality, convenience, and cost at $34.95 / £24.95). With 65% of adults lacking a Will even without geographic challenges, expats face an even higher barrier.
What Are the Four Options for Writing a Will as an Expat?
The process of creating a Will presents special challenges to expats who maintain their assets in their original country of residence. A Will needs to follow the property laws of its asset location jurisdiction but it requires precise wording to function correctly with the Will from your home country. The four methods below show all available options which progress from the least effective to the most effective.
Option 1: Handwrite Your Will (Not Recommended)
A handwritten (“holographic”) Will is technically legal in some jurisdictions, but it is by far the worst option. Key issues include:
- Not even trained legal professionals write Wills from scratch; they use established legal precedent software
A properly composed Will contains between five to six pages which includes more than twenty sections that explain how executors should operate and how trusts should function and what happens when primary beneficiaries die and who will receive the remaining assets.
Holographic Wills function as emergency documents which people can create when they face critical situations like being stuck under heavy machinery but these documents should not serve as standard estate planning instruments.
There is virtually no chance a layperson can produce a comprehensive, enforceable Will from a blank page - A well-drafted Will is typically 5–6 pages with 20+ clauses covering executor powers, trusts, alternate plans, and residual beneficiaries
- Holographic Wills are designed for extreme emergency situations (e.g., a person trapped under machinery), not routine estate planning
- There is virtually no chance a layperson can produce a comprehensive, enforceable Will from a blank page
Option 2: Use a Blank Form Will Kit (Risky)
Blank form kits function as an additional stage above blank paper writing but they maintain their strong risk factors:
- They cannot check for errors or omissions in your instructions
The documents fail to address specific legal requirements which exist in different legal systems because British Columbia and Ontario have separate laws and Texas and California maintain independent jurisdictions.
The user cannot confirm the kit contains all current legal requirements which apply to their situation.
You need a home country-specific kit for expats which would probably cancel out your existing Will from your country of residence.
No kit we are aware of creates Wills designed to work together with Wills in other jurisdictions. - They are often too generic to cover jurisdiction-specific laws (the laws of British Columbia differ from Ontario; Texas from California)
- You have no assurance the kit is up-to-date with current legislation
- For expats, you would need a kit specific to your home country ; and it would likely revoke any Will you have in your country of residence
- No kit we are aware of creates Wills designed to work together with Wills in other jurisdictions
Option 3: Hire a Lawyer or Solicitor (Expensive and Difficult)
The use of a lawyer guarantees quality work but makes it hard for expats to access their services:
- The lawyer must hold an active license to practice law within the jurisdiction which contains your assets.
You need to return to your home nation for lawyer meetings and document signing sessions.
The probate court does not accept facsimile or digital signatures because it requires all Wills to remain in their original signed paper form.
The cost of a standard Will includes legal fees which start at $500 but you must also pay for travel expenses.
Some lawyers lack the specific expertise to draft an expat Will that works alongside a foreign Will - You typically need to travel to your home country to meet with the lawyer and sign the documents
- Facsimile and digital signatures are not legally admissible in probate court ; the Will must be an original, signed document
- A standard Will costs around $500+ in legal fees, plus travel expenses
- Some lawyers lack the specific expertise to draft an expat Will that works alongside a foreign Will
Option 4: Use an Interactive Online Will Service (Recommended)
The service at ExpatLegalWills.com offers users professional estate planning tools which they can access from any location throughout the globe. The service provides these benefits to its customers:
| Feature | Lawyer | Blank Kit | ExpatLegalWills.com |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction-specific | Yes | Often not | Yes (US, Canada, UK) |
| Error checking | Yes | No | Yes |
| Kept up to date | Varies | No | Yes |
| Works with other Wills | If requested | No | Yes, by design |
| Cost | $500+ | $20–50 | $34.95 / £24.95 |
| Time required | Days/weeks + travel | Hours | ~20 minutes |
| Location requirement | Must visit lawyer’s office | None | Anywhere in the world |
Key Takeaway
An interactive online Will service produces a document word-for-word identical to one created by a lawyer, because it uses the same tried-and-tested legal precedents. Users around the world can access these tools through their direct connection to the system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an online Will as legally valid as one prepared by a lawyer?
Yes. People who want to write a Will do not need to hire a lawyer because the law does not require them to do so. The Will becomes legally binding after ExpatLegalWills.com users print it out and sign it in front of two witnesses who serve as witnesses.
Can I update my Will after creating it online?
Yes. You can log into your account and update your Will at any time. You need to download the new document version after each change and then you must print it out before signing it.
What if I have assets in multiple countries?
ExpatLegalWills.com creates Wills that deal exclusively with assets in one jurisdiction (US, Canada, or UK). Each Will exists to support international Wills which have been created in addition to standard Wills.
He has over 20 years of experience helping people to write their Will and other estate planning documents. He has been interviewed by many of the major news media outlets and has contributed to articles in most leading publications. He has also contributed to a number of financial planning books.
Throughout his career, Tim has written extensively on the subject of Will writing and estate planning.
- Expat Wills: What They Are and Why You Need One - April 2, 2026
- Can I Write My Own Last Will and Testament? - March 26, 2026
- The Expat Legal Wills Blog: Your Resource for Estate Planning Abroad - March 19, 2026
