Modern families don’t fit neatly within national borders. Careers, marriages, and investments now stretch across continents, and so do estates. But when assets, heirs, or laws cross boundaries, so do complications. Cross-border estate planning ensures your wishes survive translation — legally, financially, and emotionally.
A will written for one country may be meaningless in another. Bank accounts might freeze for months, digital assets could be lost to jurisdictional conflicts, and heirs can face double taxation. These are preventable outcomes, and digital tools like the Evaheld Legacy Vault make prevention simple, by consolidating documentation, guidance, and emotional context in one encrypted space.
The global family challenge
Migration, dual citizenship, and global business have blurred the lines of legacy. A British citizen may own a holiday home in Spain, run a company in Singapore, and have children living in Canada. Each jurisdiction has its own inheritance laws — some recognise foreign wills, others do not.
According to the Law Society of England and Wales, the key to cross-border estate planning lies in harmonisation: ensuring that all documents complement one another rather than conflict.
The Law Society of Scotland echoes this, advising testators with overseas assets to create separate wills for each country, while clearly linking them through consistent wording and reference documents stored securely in their vault.
Where global estates go wrong
Cross-border cases are notorious for delays. Common pitfalls include:
- Duplicate wills that unintentionally revoke one another.
- Assets omitted because the testator assumed they’d be automatically covered.
- Language discrepancies that change meaning across jurisdictions.
- Lack of proof of domicile or residency.
- Absence of authorised translations.
Even families with modest international ties can fall into these traps. Without clear instructions, executors are left to interpret foreign law under stress and grief.
Your minimal viable estate plan should include not just your UK will, but copies or summaries of every related international document — all organised and timestamped in your digital legacy vault.
Meet your Legacy Assistant — Charli Evaheld is here to guide you through your free Evaheld Legacy Vault so you can create, share, and preserve everything that matters — from personal stories and care wishes to legal and financial documents — all in one secure place, for life.
Understanding domicile and residence
Your domicile determines which country’s law governs your estate. This isn’t always the same as your tax residence. For instance, an Australian living in London may remain domiciled in Australia unless they formally adopt UK domicile.
The UK Government’s domicile guidance outlines how domicile affects inheritance tax liability. Knowing which jurisdiction claims your estate helps you plan distributions and avoid overlapping obligations.
If you’re unsure, ask your solicitor to provide a “statement of domicile” for storage within your vault.
Managing taxes and treaties
Double taxation is one of the most complex risks in international estate management. Without proper planning, heirs can pay inheritance tax in two countries for the same asset.
The OECD Model Tax Convention forms the basis for many bilateral agreements that prevent this. However, the UK only has inheritance-tax treaties with a handful of countries.
A practical step: create a “Tax & Treaty” folder in your vault with copies of relevant agreements and notes from your advisers. Documenting this prevents confusion during probate.
Handling foreign property
Real estate abroad often falls under lex situs — the law of the country where the property is located. That means your Spanish villa or New Zealand farm may need a local will to govern its transfer.
The European Union Succession Regulation (Brussels IV) allows EU residents to choose which country’s law should apply to their estate, but this doesn’t automatically extend to non-EU citizens. UK citizens, post-Brexit, must now explicitly declare applicable law within their will.
A clear note inside your vault, titled Foreign Property Directive, should summarise these decisions for your executor.
Protecting digital and financial assets
Digital assets — from online investments to intellectual property — often exist on servers in multiple jurisdictions. Laws on access differ dramatically.
The National Cyber Security Centre UK recommends appointing a digital executor and maintaining an encrypted record of account locations, not passwords, within a secure vault. This ensures continuity without breaching data protection laws.
Financially, document which institutions hold your accounts and in which countries. Many banks freeze foreign accounts upon a customer’s death; advance planning can expedite release.
Blended families and multiple legal systems
Second marriages, dual-citizenship children, or international adoptions introduce additional complexity. For instance, a will written under English law may not automatically recognise stepchildren residing abroad.
Use your letters of instruction template to explain intentions that transcend legal definitions — who you consider part of your moral family, even if not legally recognised.
Cross-reference those notes with your solicitor’s advice and keep them accessible to all relevant heirs through your vault.
Coordinating executors across borders
If you have assets or family in multiple countries, appoint separate executors or co-executors who understand local procedures. One executor should take global oversight while the others manage local administration.
Provide each with precise access rights via your digital legacy vault — limiting them to their relevant jurisdictions. This avoids data spillage while maintaining accountability.
During a family meeting estate planning session, introduce these executors to one another so roles are transparent long before probate begins.
Planning for incapacity
Cross-border living doesn’t just affect posthumous planning. What if you become incapacitated abroad? Different countries recognise different powers of attorney.
The Advance Care Planning Australia framework provides international best-practice guidance for advance directives, ensuring medical wishes are honoured even outside your home jurisdiction.
Store these alongside your will in Evaheld, and note any translation or witnessing requirements relevant to local authorities.
Plan ahead with confidence — create your free Advance Care Plan in the Evaheld Legacy Vault to record your healthcare wishes, appoint decision-makers, and give your loved ones clarity, comfort, and peace of mind.
Language and translation
One of the most overlooked issues in global estates is language. Courts rarely accept informal translations. Always commission certified translators for any will, directive, or deed executed in another language.
Attach both originals and translations to your vault. If possible, include an audio recording of you summarising key points — invaluable for proving intent across linguistic boundaries.
Banking and currency management
If your estate spans multiple currencies, volatility can erode value before distribution. Specify preferred conversion methods and timing instructions for executors.
The Bank of England publishes guidance on handling foreign currency holdings and international transfers during probate. Keep this reference in your vault for executor use.
Preventing legal conflict through clarity
Litigation in cross-border estates is not just expensive — it’s exhausting. Courts must decide which law applies before they even reach asset division.
Pre-empt conflict with documentation. Record video explanations in your vault that clarify your decisions — especially around fairness, residence, and jurisdiction. Transparency now prevents argument later.
The American Bar Association confirms that explicit communication during life dramatically reduces international estate disputes.
Building a team of experts
Effective global planning requires collaboration. Engage solicitors or notaries in each country where you hold property, along with a primary adviser to coordinate.
Upload contact details and engagement letters to your vault under International Advisors. This allows executors to reach professionals immediately, saving weeks of delay.
The role of technology and Evaheld
Managing multi-jurisdictional documents used to mean couriering binders across borders. Now, cloud-based encryption and access logs make global coordination effortless.
The Evaheld Legacy Vault provides a single, secure environment for all wills, directives, translations, and instructions. You can:
- Assign access by country or executor.
- Timestamp every upload for legal credibility.
- Store videos explaining the rationale behind each decision.
- Integrate both financial and emotional records in one place.
Your memory preservation tools within Evaheld ensure that heirs inherit not just instructions, but your intent and voice — vital when navigating complex jurisdictions.
Reviewing regularly
Because tax treaties, property laws, and even currency values shift, schedule a review of your cross-border documents every two to three years.
Add reminders in your vault using a five-year estate review template, and check with your advisers whenever you move, marry, or acquire new property abroad.
The peace of global order
An international life doesn’t have to create an international headache. With deliberate planning, trusted advisers, and a secure digital vault, you can unify your legacy under one clear narrative.
Cross-border estate planning is, at its core, a lesson in coherence: making sure every document, in every language, tells the same story — your story.
Protect that story in your digital legacy vault, and let your family remember you not through the chaos of paperwork, but through the clarity of your foresight.
Future-Proof Your Legacy: Stories, Wishes, and Documents in One Secure Vault
Your life is a rich tapestry of stories, relationships, and intentions. The Evaheld Legacy Vault is the dedicated platform to protect it all, giving your family the priceless gift of clarity, connection, and peace of mind for generations to come.
And you're never on your own. Charli, your dedicated AI Legacy Preservation Assistant, is there to guide you. From the moment you start your Vault, Charli provides personalised support—helping you set up your account, inviting family members, sending content requests, and articulating your stories and care wishes with empathy and clarity.
Take control of your legacy today. Your free Evaheld Legacy Vault is the secure home for your most precious assets—ensuring your family memories, advance care plans, and vital documents are organised, safe, and instantly shareable.
Take control of what matters most — set up your free Evaheld Legacy Vault to keep your stories, care wishes, and essential documents safe, organised, and instantly shareable with loved ones and advisers, for life.
1. Preserve Your Family’s Living Story & History
Transform your memories into a timeless family archive that future generations can truly experience. Within the Evaheld Legacy Vault, you can record videos, capture photos, write reflections, and create Legacy Letters — weaving together the laughter, lessons, and love that define your family’s identity.
Preserve more than moments: build a living digital time capsule where your heritage, traditions, and wisdom are safe, searchable, and shareable. From everyday memories to milestone events, your family’s story will remain a permanent bridge between generations — a place your loved ones can return to whenever they need comfort, connection, or inspiration.
2. Secure Your Care & Health Wishes
Ensure your voice is heard when it matters most. With the Evaheld Legacy Vault, you can create and store a digital Advance Care Directive, record your healthcare preferences, and legally appoint your Medical Decision Maker. Grant secure, instant access to family and clinicians, and link it all to your Emergency QR Access Card for first responders—ensuring your wishes are always honored.
Watch our Founder's Story to learn why we’re so passionate about Legacy Preservation and Advance Care Planning
3. Protect Your Essential Documents with Bank-Grade Security
Consolidate your critical records in one bank-grade encrypted vault. Safely store your will, power of attorney, insurance policies, and financial documents with precise permission controls. Never worry about lost, damaged, or inaccessible paperwork again. Your documents are organised and available only to those you explicitly trust.
4. Strengthen Family Bonds with Your Living, Collaborative Legacy
Transform your Legacy Vault from a static archive into a living, breathing family hub that actively deepens connections across generations and distances. This is where your legacy is built together, in real-time.
Let Charli, Your AI Legacy Preservation Assistant, Be Your Collaboration Catalyst. Charli proactively helps your family connect and create. She can suggest content requests, prompt family members to share specific memories, and help organise contributions—making it effortless for everyone to participate in building your shared story.
Create private or shared Family Rooms to connect with loved ones, carers, and trusted advisors. Within these Rooms, you can:
- Share precious memories as they happen, making your Vault a dynamic, growing timeline of your family's life.
- Send and fulfill collaborative content requests, ensuring you preserve exactly what your family cherishes most—from that funny holiday story to cherished family recipes.
- Schedule future-dated messages for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones, allowing you to offer wisdom, love, and connection for years to come.
Evaheld is more than a digital vault; it's your family's private collaboration platform for intergenerational storytelling. It’s the simplest way to ensure every voice is heard, every memory is captured, and every bond is strengthened—today and for the future.
Start Your Free Evaheld Legacy Vault in Minutes
Join thousands of families who have found peace of mind. Setting up your free, permanent Vault is quick and simple.
- Safeguard your story for future generations.
- Ensure your care wishes are respected.
- Shield essential documents from loss and ensure instant, secure access.
The Best 3 Resources to Get Started
- Create Your Legacy Statement in 10 Minutes Flat
- Prevent Family Conflict with Our Legacy Kit
- Get Inspired: See Powerful Ethical Will Examples
Our Commitment: No One Left Behind
Evaheld believes that every story deserves to be protected, without exception. Our "Connection is All We Have" Hardship Program ensures that financial circumstances are never a barrier to legacy preservation and advance care planning.
If you are facing financial hardship, contact our team to learn how we can provide a free Vault. We are here to help you secure what matters most.
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