Have you reviewed your will in the last 2 years?
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When was the last time you looked at your will? If it’s been more than two years, it is officially time for a tune-up.
As a general rule of thumb, estate plans should be reviewed every 24 months. Life moves fast, assets shift, and international tax laws change. When you throw cross-border assets into the mix, an outdated will isn't just a minor inconvenience - it’s a major legal bottleneck waiting to happen.
Here is why we need to do a quick biennial review of your global estate strategy to ensure the eventual probate work remains seamless.
Why the 2-Year Mark Matters
A lot can change in two years. We use this regular check-in to look for three major red flags:
Asset Shifting: Have you bought, sold, or moved property, bank accounts, or investments across borders since 2024?
Regulatory Changes: Foreign inheritance tax thresholds and local compliance laws are constantly evolving. What worked two years ago might expose you to unnecessary taxes today.
Life Updates: Changes in family dynamics, executors, or your personal wishes need to be formally captured.
The Global Strategy: Write Now, Smooth Probate Later
If you hold assets in multiple countries, remember that a single "worldwide" will rarely cuts it. Our ongoing strategy relies on maintaining distinct, localised wills for each country where you own property or accounts.
The Big Picture: We review and update these specific regional wills every two years so that the future probate process is a simple, administrative checkbox exercise for your heirs, rather than a multi-year, multi-jurisdictional court battle.
Next Steps
We offer a brief free review call of your will to audit your current footprint and make sure your local and international wills are perfectly aligned.
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