Navigating International Estate Planning

For many years, international and cross-border issues in estate planning tended to be confined to a niche corner of the practice, but today’s increased family mobility, global real estate portfolios, marriages across borders, and other international components have made cross-border estate planning a core aspect of most estate practices.

Suzanne Shier recently joined LP colleague Bailey Hammond and Carolyn Reers of Wiggin and Dana, for a podcast discussion moderated by LP’s Steven Kriz, “Navigating International Estate Planning.” This experienced panel of estate lawyers discussed how they have seen international estate planning evolve in recent years, and outlined key challenges advisors are helping their clients navigate. Click on the links below to explore specific topics, or watch the full interview here. 

• How the increase in global mobility and family complexity has created a new era in international estate planning 
• The growing role of cultural competence and intergenerational communication in modern estate planning
• The complexities cross-border families must navigate to move from the accumulation phase to true efficient wealth planning
• How culture and technological changes have impacted international tax planning and regulatory compliance
• Addressing concerns around marital property regimes in foreign jurisdictions
• Key considerations in a core estate plan for international clients
• Navigating multiple wills and trusts in cross-border planning
• How marriages between U.S. citizens and non-citizens create complexity, and how plans can carefully address it
• Cultural considerations for engaging in philanthropy across borders
• Challenges and solutions for effective post-mortem administration
• Foreign jurisdiction considerations practitioners should be familiar with
• Key takeaways: International issues in estate planning have become more common, more complex, and are best solved through thoughtful collaboration between client and advisor

Listen to this podcast on Spotify.

For a deeper dive into these topics, check out A Guide to International Estate Planning: Design, Administration, and Compliance, Third Edition, co-edited by Carolyn and Suzanne and published by the American Bar Association.

Facing an estate question with international dimensions? Reach out to Suzanne Shier or another member of LP’s Trusts & Estates Group.