Buenos Aires · ArgentinaWONE Global Partner · Argentina
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Cases · People & private matters · Family, succession & private client
Make a will that works in more than one country
I own assets in several countries. Will one will cover all of them?
WONE Global coordinates wills, or one will with local provisions, that work together in each country where you hold assets, with forced-heirship and tax rules checked in each.
Countries in the typical case India · United Arab Emirates · United Kingdom
The situation
What is happening
A person owns property or assets in several countries and one will may not work everywhere.
What is at stake
A will that does not work in one country can leave assets frozen or passing to the wrong people.
Who faces this
- Private clients and families
A scenario
Couple, resident in DubaiPrivate client or family · from India · in United Arab Emirates, India, United Kingdom
They live in Dubai and own property in India and the UK. One will drafted at home may not be accepted in all three countries.
Where it ends Wills that work in every country where they hold assets.
A representative scenario of the work WONE Global coordinates, not a specific client’s matter.
Also asked as “International will”“Do I need a separate will for property abroad?”“A family needs an estate plan across two legal systems”“A foreign will may not be recognised locally”
The solution
How WONE Global handles it
WONE Global coordinates wills, or one will with local provisions, that work together in each country where you hold assets, with forced-heirship and tax rules checked in each.
Usually led by Legal & Contracting, with Tax & International Structuring.
Step by step, in the scenario
- Week 1Assets and the succession rules in each country mapped.
- Weeks 2-3Wills drafted to work together.
- Week 4Signed and registered where useful.
- ThenReviewed when assets change.
Timings are typical. They depend on the countries, the authorities involved and how quickly documents are available.
Decisions
The decisions involved
- 01One will or several, and which law applies
- 02Forced heirship rules and how to respect them
- 03Formalities so each country recognises the will
Outcomes
What you receive
- Wills drafted for each relevant country
- A succession map of assets
- Executors and guardians appointed
This is a general guide. Your WONE Global professional confirms the work, timing and fees for your markets before anything starts.
Services
The services involved
One area of expertise usually leads; the others move with it. WONE Global keeps them connected across every country involved.
Who handles it
Legal & Contracting, market by market
The status of the lead service in the markets that matter for this case. A named WONE Global Partner acts under their own licence; where none is in place yet, WONE Global confirms availability before anything else.
- Indiain the typical case On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- United Arab Emiratesin the typical case On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- United Kingdomin the typical case On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
- Argentina WONE Global Partner Dr. Esteban Lucio Maccari · Managing Director Brief this Partner →
- Australia WONE Global Partner Alice Turner · Lawyer Brief this Partner →
- Brazil WONE Global Partner José Antonio Balieiro Lima · Partner, Tax, Administrative & Maritime Law Brief this Partner →
- Cameroon WONE Global Partner Edmond Christian AKOA MBALLA · Founder & Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- China WONE Global Partner Roberto Gilardino · Regional Partner North Asia & additional countries Brief this Partner →
- Ethiopia WONE Global Partner Mekonnen Shiferaw · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Israel WONE Global Partner Karin Horev · Founding Partner Brief this Partner →
- Italy WONE Global Partner Alessandro Dagnino · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Morocco WONE Global Partner Mouad Aktaou · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Panama WONE Global Partner Ebrahim Asvat K. · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Poland WONE Global Partner Andrzej Zacharzewski · Partner Brief this Partner →
- Portugal WONE Global Partner Bruna Prinzo · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Saudi Arabia WONE Global Partner Abdulrahim bin Saleh Al-Zahrani · Founding Partner & General Manager Brief this Partner →
- South Africa WONE Global Partner Johan Beer · Partner Brief this Partner →
- Spain WONE Global Partner David Bermejo Perramón · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Uganda WONE Global Partner Tony Galandi Kiire · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- United States WONE Global Partner Frederick Miles Adler · Principal Brief this Partner →
- Zambia WONE Global Partner Reagan Blankfein Gates · Managing Partner Brief this Partner →
- Singapore On request Availability confirmed before any work begins Bring a requirement →
Other markets: WONE Global covers 100 countries. Name yours in the requirement →
Buenos Aires · Argentina
Brunswick · Australia
São Paulo · BrazilWONE Global Partner · Brazil
José Antonio Balieiro Lima
Douala · Cameroon
Shanghai · ChinaWONE Global Partner · China
Roberto Gilardino
Roberto Gilardino is Regional Partner at Horizons, supervising the advisory’s activities in North Asia as well as additional countries (including Mongolia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, UAE, Cyprus and Malta).
Addis Ababa · EthiopiaWONE Global Partner · Ethiopia
Mekonnen Shiferaw
Discover
Where this case connects
The markets, corridors and guides behind this case, and the questions to put to Ask WONE below. Every link opens a page that links back here.
Markets in the typical case
Corridors
Services and subject
Ask WONE about this case
Worked examples
How it goes in practice
Researched corridor journeys, and representative scenarios on the same subject. None is a specific client’s matter.
- India ↔ United Arab Emirates · researched journeyAn Indian manufacturer sets up a UAE regional hubRead the journey →
- UAE ↔ United Kingdom · researched journeyA UAE company sets up a UK subsidiaryRead the journey →
- Private client or family · from Kenya · in United Kingdom, CanadaThe founder plans to pass the group on to children who live in the UK and Canada.How WONE Global handles it →
Family, succession & private client
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WONE Global Intelligence
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Work through India ↔ United Arab Emirates with the leaders doing it.
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