Making a will from outside UK

HundredRoom

HundredRoom

Well-known member
Been wanting to do this and now seems a good time for obvious reasons. Went to moneysavigexpert and there are a lot of simple options there. However they all expect you to be UK resident.

Anyone done this ?
 
We made Spanish ones in 2005. You have reminded me to dig them out and check them.

Over here there are rules about percentages of inheritance for each family member. As non-Spanish nationals we can bypass those rules. If we have a will.

Another thing for my to do list.
 
If it's a simple one, you can write a will yourself from various templates.

If you have assets in different countries then it gets more difficult as you may have to have a will for each country's assets (or give your beneficiaries lots of problems down the line - possibly losing out on some of their inheritance). There is usually someone who will do that for you in the country you live in (at a cost).
 
Always wondered how anyone knows where your will us upon dying. After a bit of googling I see that it makes sense to register the will at the probate office. You have to send them a cheque for 20 quid. Whatever a cheque is.
 
HundredRoom said:
Been wanting to do this and now seems a good time for obvious reasons. Went to moneysavigexpert and there are a lot of simple options there. However they all expect you to be UK resident.

Anyone done this ?
Click to expand...

Very much depends on the country you're in I think - certainly in Spain, as residents, any of our Spanish based assets are subject to Spanish inheritance rules. They're also very keen on knowing about non-Spanish assets for tax purposes, but not sure what level of "control" they have on them for inheritance .......... suppose I ought to find out
 
HundredRoom said:
Always wondered how anyone knows where your will us upon dying. After a bit of googling I see that it makes sense to register the will at the probate office. You have to send them a cheque for 20 quid. Whatever a cheque is.
Click to expand...

Most folks will ask their executors if they will perform this role before naming them in the will. Some people give them a copy of the will but most just expect them to find it in their papers. On first death the spouse usually knows where the will is.
 
Malaguena said:
Very much depends on the country you're in I think - certainly in Spain, as residents, any of our Spanish based assets are subject to Spanish inheritance rules. They're also very keen on knowing about non-Spanish assets for tax purposes, but not sure what level of "control" they have on them for inheritance .......... suppose I ought to find out
Click to expand...
When we did our wills in 2005 I believe we were told that as we are not Spanish nationals we do not have to follow the Spanish inheritance rules (about how a certain percentage of our assets must be split automatically between family members). If I remember rightly I think they said that was including our assets here and in the UK. Maybe that has changed now? Or maybe my memory is not as good as it used to be.

However, as you say inheritance taxation is a completely different subject. We are tax resident in Spain. So will be hit by the rules here. For all income from inheritance I believe.

In the same way as we cannot use the UK tax free part of my wife's pension pot. As we are taxed in Spain all of her pension income is taxed here. Even if we take it out of the tax free part of her UK pension. (She and I have zero tax codes in the UK).

So for anyone planning to retire over to Spain. Take your tax free lump sum out before you come out here.

As you say, some research to be done.
 
As Malaguena say, each country may have very specific inheritance regulations. In France it's really complicated and it's sometimes wise to have both a french and a british will, but again it depends on your particular circumstances and assets.

Which country are you in otm? You're not going to tell us are you! :sneaky:
 
thanks for the replies. I knew it would be complicated. I will just pull the duvet up a bit higher and hope it all goes away
 
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