Originally published: October 3, 2014 | Last updated: January 8, 2026
TL;DR: An International Will is a Will created under the 1973 Washington Convention (Uniform International Wills Act), designed to be accepted across signatory countries. However, it is only recognized in a limited number of jurisdictions and does not address the substantive content needed in a well-drafted Will. For expats, creating multiple complementary jurisdiction-specific Wills ; such as those offered at ExpatLegalWills.com ; is a more reliable and comprehensive solution.
What Is an International Will?
The International Will exists as a Last Will and Testament which the Washington Convention of 1973 created under its official name “Convention Providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will.” The Uniform International Wills Act established basic requirements which all member states must follow to validate Wills through their signed convention.
The project aimed to develop a single Will system which people could use for international recognition instead of creating different Wills for each country.
What Are the Requirements for an International Will?
The Uniform International Wills Act requires International Wills to meet these three criteria for validation:
- The document needs to exist as written material but the testator does not need to write it themselves
The document needs to exist in any language
The document requires two witnesses to observe its signing and dating process
The testator must state their Will to an authorized person who has the power to confirm their declaration - Be written in any language
- Be signed and dated in the presence of two witnesses
- Be declared as the testator’s Will before an authorized person
Which Countries Accept the International Will?
Adoption has been limited. The International Will has legal recognition in Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada and Cyprus and Ecuador and France and Italy and Libya and Niger and Portugal and Slovenia and 23 US states. The International Will fails to achieve worldwide protection because it does not include the United Kingdom and Australia and most Asian countries and all African and South American nations.
Notably absent from this list are the United Kingdom, Australia, most of Asia, Africa, and South America ; meaning the International Will fails to provide universal coverage.
Why Is the International Will Not Recommended for Expats?
The International Will does not meet its planned objectives because it contains multiple major defects which make it unusable.
| Limitation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| No content requirements | The convention addresses only the form of the Will, not its content. It does not specify what clauses to include. |
| Missing essential clauses | A well-drafted Will needs 20+ clauses covering executor powers, trusts, alternate plans, and residual beneficiaries. The International Will framework does not address any of this. |
| Jurisdiction-specific laws ignored | Different countries have different rules about disinheriting spouses, bequests to minors, and disposition of real estate. An International Will cannot account for these variations. |
| Limited signatory countries | Most countries have not signed the convention, so the Will would not be accepted in their courts. |
| Language barriers | While the Will can be written in any language, many courts require documents in the local language for probate. |
Key Takeaway
The International Will establishes rules for Will presentation and witness procedures but it does not establish rules for Will contents. For expats, the content of the Will; trusts, powers, alternate plans; is where the complexity lies.
What Is the Better Alternative for Expats?
The recommended approach is to create multiple complementary Wills, one for each country where you hold assets. Each Will should:
- The Will needs to follow the legal system which governs the property location for all assets
The Will should concentrate on handling all properties which exist inside that particular country
The document should protect existing Wills which people created for foreign nations
The document needs to contain every required legal element which applies to the country in question - At ExpatLegalWills.com, you can create jurisdiction-specific Wills for the US, Canada, or UK from anywhere in the world. Each Will is designed to complement any other Wills you may have, with no risk of one canceling the other.
- Not revoke Wills written for other countries
- Include all necessary clauses for that jurisdiction’s legal requirements
At ExpatLegalWills.com, you can create jurisdiction-specific Wills for the US, Canada, or UK from anywhere in the world. Each Will is designed to complement any other Wills you may have, with no risk of one canceling the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an International Will valid in the UK?
No. The United Kingdom has not signed the Washington Convention, so an International Will is not recognized by UK probate courts. You need a Will written specifically under English and Welsh law to cover UK assets.
Can one International Will cover assets in multiple countries?
The system allows International Wills to cover multiple countries but only for nations which have joined the convention although these documents fail to include necessary information for estate processing. Separate, well-drafted Wills for each jurisdiction are far more effective.
What is the difference between an International Will and an Expat Will?
The Washington Convention creates International Wills through a standard system which member nations recognize but these documents lack essential content requirements. ExpatLegalWills.com provides Expat Wills which function as complete Wills that follow local legal requirements and work together with Wills established in other nations.
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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