This is particularly important for people who own property, bank accounts, businesses, or other assets in more than one country. Cross-border estates can involve multiple legal systems, and the rules governing one property may differ from those governing another.
What About Leaving Everything to Someone Else?
An estranged parent may think:
“I’ll simply leave everything to my other children.”
Or perhaps:
“I’ll leave it to my grandchildren.”
Others may want to give everything to a friend, charity, caregiver, religious organization, or partner.
Again, the legality depends on the applicable inheritance rules.
In some jurisdictions, a parent can largely choose among beneficiaries. In others, protected heirs may still be entitled to a portion of the estate.
Even in systems with substantial testamentary freedom, the way assets are owned can matter. A will may not override an existing beneficiary designation or joint ownership arrangement.
This is why estate planning should be treated as more than simply writing a sentence saying, “My son receives nothing.”
