
International people and property frequently pop up in estate planning. Two common scenarios include planning for a noncitizen spouse and planning for property held outside the United States. Each topic is worthy of separate discussion, so this presentation will be split into two segments.
We will start with planning for a noncitizen spouse using outright transfers and qualified domestic trusts (QDOTs). This discussion will span the client relationship, beginning with the initial conference. We will move through lifetime planning and gifting, ending with postmortem planning and QDOT administration.
Next, we will discuss planning for real property held outside the United States. Again, we will follow the arc of the client relationship, starting with identifying a team of advisors. It is impossible to suggest one planning technique for all foreign property because estate planning varies greatly from country to country. Instead, we will cover common scenarios and general drafting tips for coordinating wills in multiple jurisdictions. If time allows, we will discuss postmortem administration issues that frequently arise with foreign real property.