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It is not uncommon to encounter clients with a foreign element to their affairs. When preparing a Will for such a client, it is necessary to consider whether an English Will is sufficient or whether an overseas Will is needed. Even if an English Will is valid in a foreign jurisdiction, there may be practical reasons to use an overseas Will.

The interaction of laws of more than one jurisdiction can be complex. This note deals only with the law applying in England and Wales (English law) and only considers the broad rules of thumb as to when an overseas Will is needed. Advice from overseas is usually required where there is any foreign aspect.

From an English law perspective, an overseas Will generally becomes an issue when one or both of the following foreign elements exists:

1. •

   the client is domiciled abroad

2. •

   the client has property abroad