{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"183: Beyond Borders: International Estate Planning Essentials for Families (Part 3)","description":" In this final installment of Absolute Trust Talk's international estate planning series, host Kirsten Howe concludes her conversation with estate planning specialist Janet Brewer, addressing one of the most common cross-border scenarios: U.S. citizens who own property abroad. Janet, with over 30 years of experience serving Silicon Valley's international clientele, explains why simply leaving foreign property to your US trust won't work, since most countries don't recognize trusts at all.   This episode highlights the crucial distinction between countries that recognize trusts (primarily former British colonies) and those that don't, and examines practical solutions, including the Hague Convention on International Wills and strategic "situs wills," which can prevent costly intestate succession. Janet shares how to navigate the complex process of probating wills in multiple countries and introduces listeners to STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), an invaluable resource for finding qualified international estate planning professionals worldwide. Whether you've inherited a cottage in England, own investment property in India, or have family assets in China, this episode provides essential guidance for protecting your foreign holdings and ensuring your wishes are honored across borders.   Time-stamped Show Notes: 0:00 Introduction 2:27 Janet explains the fundamental problem: Most countries don't recognize trusts, making standard US estate planning ineffective for foreign property 3:04 Discover which countries DO recognize trusts: primarily former British colonies like England, while Germany, China, and France do not 3:08 Learn about the Hague Convention on International Wills - a treaty that allows properly formatted wills to be honored across participating countries 5:57 The reality check: Most clients have their primary assets in the US but own that "little pocket of assets" overseas 6:07 Janet walks through the practical challenge of having one original will needed in two different countries 7:03 Strategic will drafting: How to structure wills to handle both US trusts and foreign property distributions effectively 10:07 Why you MUST work with an attorney in the foreign jurisdiction - forced heirship laws and other local requirements can override your US planning 11:10 Meet STEP: The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners - your go-to resource for finding qualified international estate planning professionals 12:53 How STEP membership requirements vary by country, with stricter vetting in the UK compared to more relaxed US standards 13:56 Closing thoughts and appreciation for the three-part international estate planning series   Take the Next Step in Your Estate Planning Journey If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to help you with your own estate planning needs in California. Schedule a complimentary discovery call with our team at Absolute Trust Counsel. During this no-obligation conversation, we'll: Learn about your unique situation and goals Answer questions about our services Determine if we're the right fit to work together  Visit https:\/\/absolutetrustcounsel.com\/scheduling\/ or call 925-943-2740 to schedule your free discovery call today. Follow and Review: We\u2019d love for you to follow us if you haven\u2019t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We\u2019d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select \u201cRatings and Reviews\u201d and \u201cWrite a Review\u201d then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a couple second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Episode Credits: The Absolute Trust Talk podcast is brought to you with the help of Q2Mark, led by Chief Marketing Officer Susie Hays. Since 2016, Q2Mark has partnered with Absolute Trust Counsel on all marketing communications\u2014from brand development and website design to this podcast series with over 192 episodes, social media management, video production, and more. If you're business owner looking for comprehensive marketing support, visit Q2Mark.com. ","author_name":"Absolute Trust Talk","author_url":"https:\/\/absolutetrustcounsel.com\/podcast","html":"