Originally published: September 15, 2014 | Last updated: December 7, 2025
What Is the Expat Legal Wills Blog?
The Expat Legal Wills Blog is the official resource hub of ExpatLegalWills.com, a service that enables expatriates to create legally valid Wills for assets held in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom — from anywhere in the world. The blog provides expert guidance on estate planning topics specifically relevant to people living outside their home country.
With an estimated 6.3 million Americans, 4.6 million Brits, and 2.8 million Canadians living abroad, the need for accessible, jurisdiction-specific estate planning advice has never been greater. This blog addresses that need with practical, authoritative articles written by estate planning professionals with over 20 years of experience.
What Topics Does This Blog Cover?
The blog covers a wide range of estate planning subjects tailored to expats, including:
- How to write a Will from abroad — step-by-step guidance for creating a legally valid Will while living overseas
- Expat Will requirements — what makes an expatriate Will different from a standard domestic Will
- Choosing an executor — who can serve and what responsibilities they carry across jurisdictions
- Beneficiary rules — who can (and cannot) inherit under UK, US, and Canadian law
- The signing process — witness requirements, affidavits, and how to make your Will legally binding
- Glossary of legal terms — plain-language definitions of estate planning terminology like probate, intestacy, and testamentary trusts
- International Wills — why they exist, their limitations, and better alternatives for expats
- Country-specific guides — focused articles for US, UK, and Canadian expats with assets in their home country
Who Should Read This Blog?
This blog is designed for anyone who fits one of these profiles:
| Reader Profile | Example Scenario |
|---|---|
| Expat with home-country assets | A British citizen living in Dubai who still owns property in the UK |
| Immigrant with foreign assets | A new Canadian resident who holds assets in their birth country and needs a Canadian Will |
| Retiree living abroad | An American retiree in Mexico with bank accounts and real estate in the US |
| Temporary overseas worker | A Canadian on a 2-year assignment in Singapore with assets back home |
| Anyone needing multiple Wills | Someone with assets in 2+ countries who needs complementary, non-conflicting Wills |
Why Is Estate Planning Important for Expats?
Dying without a Will (known as dying “intestate”) means a government formula — not your wishes — determines who inherits your assets. For expats, the consequences are compounded because assets in different countries may be subject to different intestacy laws. Key risks include:
- Your spouse may not automatically inherit everything — most jurisdictions split assets between a surviving spouse and children
- Foreign assets may require a separate probate process in each country
- A Will written under one country’s laws may not be accepted by courts in another country
- Two standard Wills can accidentally revoke each other if not carefully drafted
Key Takeaway
Expats need a Will for each country in which they hold assets — and those Wills must be drafted to work together without conflicting or revoking one another. ExpatLegalWills.com specializes in exactly this.
How Can You Create a Will as an Expat?
The service at ExpatLegalWills.com allows you to create a Last Will and Testament under the laws of the US, Canada, or UK from anywhere in the world. The process takes about 20 minutes and costs $34.95 USD / £24.95 GBP. The resulting document is word-for-word identical to one prepared by a licensed attorney or solicitor.
Once completed, you simply download, print, and sign your Will in the presence of two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries. No lawyer, notary, or return trip to your home country is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate Will for each country where I own assets?
Yes. Each jurisdiction has its own probate and inheritance laws. A Will written under one country’s laws may not be accepted or enforceable in another. ExpatLegalWills.com creates Wills that deal exclusively with assets in a specific jurisdiction and are designed to complement — not conflict with — Wills written elsewhere.
Can I write a Will for my home country while living abroad?
Absolutely. You do not need to be physically present in your home country to create a valid Will for assets held there. ExpatLegalWills.com enables you to prepare US, Canadian, or UK Wills from any location worldwide.
Is this blog written by legal professionals?
Yes. The blog is authored by Tim Hewson, President and CEO of the LegalWills group (including USLegalWills.com, LegalWills.ca, LegalWills.co.uk, and ExpatLegalWills.com), who has over 20 years of experience in estate planning.
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.
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