Canada Wills and Estates for Expats: A Guide

Managing Canada wills and estates is a challenge for expats, as cross-border estate planning and asset management presents unique problems.

Many expats assume that their Canadian will is automatically valid worldwide, but this is not always the case.

Different countries have varying inheritance laws, tax implications, and legal frameworks that could impact how an estate is distributed.

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Without a properly drafted will that considers both Canadian and foreign regulations, expats risk leaving behind a legal mess for their heirs.

Canada Wills and Estates: Expat Taxes

Does Canada have an inheritance tax?

No, Canada does not impose an inheritance tax. This means that beneficiaries do not have to pay taxes on money, property, or assets they inherit.

Unlike the U.K. or some U.S. states, where heirs may be taxed on the assets they receive, Canadian heirs generally receive their inheritance without direct taxation.

Does Canada have an estate tax?

No, Canada does not levy an estate tax on the total value of an estate before it is passed to heirs. In contrast, countries like the U.S. have federal estate taxes that apply when an estate exceeds a certain threshold (e.g., USD 13.61 million in 2024).

Does Canada have a death tax?

While there is no formal “death tax” in Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) treats the deceased’s assets as if they were sold at fair market value, triggering potential capital gains tax liabilities to be filed by their legal representative.

This concept, known as the deemed disposition rule, can have major financial implications for estates with real estate, investments, or business holdings.

Additionally, Canadian expats may still have tax obligations in Canada, even if they live abroad.

• Final Tax Return for Deceased Canadian Residents: If a deceased individual was a Canadian resident at the time of death, their final tax return must include all income earned worldwide up to the date of death. This encompasses employment income, pensions, and investment income. ​

• Final Tax Return for Deceased Non-Residents: If the individual was a non-resident of Canada at the time of death, their final tax return should include only Canadian-source income, such as income from employment in Canada, income from a business carried on in Canada, and taxable capital gains from disposing of taxable Canadian property.

Foreign Inheritance Taxes and Legal Implications

Many expats reside in countries that impose inheritance taxes, estate duties, or forced heirship laws, which can affect how assets are passed to beneficiaries. For example:

• The U.K., France, and Spain have inheritance taxes and forced heirship rules that dictate how estates must be distributed.

• Some countries do not allow assets to pass entirely to a spouse or chosen heirs, instead requiring that a portion be distributed to children or other relatives.

Expats must determine whether their host country has estate or inheritance taxes and whether their Canadian will aligns with local legal requirements.

To minimize estate tax burdens and ensure efficient wealth transfer, expats can consider:

• Setting up trusts to protect assets from taxation and legal disputes.
• Gifting assets before death to reduce taxable estates.
• Ensuring non-resident tax status in Canada to minimize unnecessary tax exposure.

Since tax implications for expats vary widely based on residency, location, and asset type, it is crucial to seek professional tax guidance.

For a comprehensive overview, refer to guide on Canadian expat taxes for more details on tax residency, capital gains, and international tax treaties.

Does a Canadian will work abroad?

A Canadian will may not always be recognized in a foreign country, depending on the local inheritance laws, legal system, and treaty agreements.

Many Canadian expats assume that their will automatically applies to all their global assets, but this is not always the case.

The validity of a Canadian will abroad depends on several factors, including whether the foreign country recognizes wills from other jurisdictions, whether it has conflicting inheritance laws, and whether it requires assets within its borders to be governed by local probate courts.

Recognition of a Canadian Will in Foreign Countries

Common Law Countries

• Countries that follow common law legal systems (such as the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand) generally recognize Canadian wills without significant legal hurdles.

• However, assets located in these countries may still need to go through local probate, which can be time-consuming if the will is not tailored to multiple jurisdictions.

Civil Law Countries (Potential Conflicts and Forced Heirship Rules)

• Many countries in Europe (e.g., France, Spain, Germany, Italy), Latin America, and parts of Asia follow civil law, which often includes forced heirship laws.

• In these countries, a portion of an estate is legally required to go to specific heirs (e.g., children or spouses), regardless of what the will states.

• A Canadian will may not be fully enforceable if it conflicts with local inheritance laws.

Sharia Law Jurisdictions (Strict Inheritance Rules)

• Some countries, particularly those following Islamic inheritance laws (e.g., UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan), enforce strict inheritance distribution laws.

• If an expat has assets in a jurisdiction governed by Sharia law, their Canadian will may be ignored if it does not comply with local regulations.

It should be noted that each country has its own legal requirements, and a Canadian will may need to undergo a probate process in the foreign jurisdiction to be validated.

Potential Issues with Cross-Border Probate

Even if a foreign jurisdiction recognizes a Canadian will, expats may face legal and administrative challenges when dealing with cross-border probate.

• Probate Delays and Costs – If an expat owns property or investments in a foreign country, their estate may need to go through probate in multiple jurisdictions, leading to delays and higher legal costs.

• Legal Documentation Requirements – Some countries require wills to be translated, notarized, or legalized before they can be enforced.

• Conflicts Between Jurisdictions – If an expat’s will contradicts local succession laws, tax regulations, or asset ownership rules, it may be contested by local authorities or heirs.

Ensuring Cross-Border Validity

To ensure that a Canadian will is enforceable abroad, expats should consider the following:

• Legalization & Apostille – The process of legalizing a Canadian will for use in a foreign country depends on whether that country is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. Canada has recently joined the Hague Convention, which came into force in Canada since 11 January 2024. Hence, public documents including those notarized by a public notary no longer need to be authenticated and legalised to be legitimately used in other Convention countries.

• International Will Convention (UNIDROIT Convention 1973) – Canada is a signatory to the Convention Providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will (1973), which allows expats to draft a will that is recognized in multiple countries that are also signatories.

• Local Legal Advice – Consulting an estate lawyer both in Canada and in the country where the expat resides or holds assets is essential to ensure proper estate planning.

In cases where a Canadian will conflicts with local laws or inheritance rules, a more effective solution may be to create separate wills for different jurisdictions.

Should Canadian expats have multiple wills?

Many Canadian expats own property, investments, or bank accounts in multiple countries, making estate planning more complex.

In such cases, having multiple wills—one for Canada and separate ones for each foreign jurisdiction—can simplify the probate process and reduce legal conflicts.

When are multiple wills necessary?

A Canadian expat may need multiple wills if:

• They own real estate, businesses, or financial accounts in multiple countries.
• Their foreign country of residence has inheritance laws that conflict with Canadian laws.
• Their foreign assets are subject to local probate, estate taxes, or inheritance laws.
• Their country of residence does not fully recognize a foreign will without additional legal procedures.

Benefits of Having Multiple Wills

• Avoiding Probate Delays – Assets in a foreign country must go through local probate, which can be time-consuming if the will is from a different jurisdiction. Having separate wills ensures faster processing.

• Compliance with Local Laws – Some countries require that wills be written in the local language and conform to local succession rules. A foreign will may be rejected or contested if it does not comply.

• Reducing Legal Conflicts – If a single will covers multiple jurisdictions, there is a risk that different legal systems may contradict each other, leading to disputes among heirs. Multiple wills ensure that each jurisdiction’s requirements are met separately.

• Minimizing Tax Exposure – Countries with inheritance taxes or estate duties may have different exemptions and tax treatments for foreign assets. A well-structured multi-will approach can help reduce tax burdens.

How to Structure Multiple Wills Correctly

If a Canadian expat needs multiple wills, they must ensure that:

• Each will is specific to a particular country’s assets – For example, a Canadian will should only cover Canadian assets, while a U.K. will should only cover U.K. property.

• The wills do not revoke each other – Some standard will clauses state that “this will revokes all previous wills,” which could unintentionally cancel a foreign will. Carefully worded clauses should specify that each will applies only to designated assets.

• Each will complies with local legal requirements – Working with legal professionals in each jurisdiction ensures that each will is properly drafted and enforceable.

The Alternative: Using an International Will

Some expats opt for an international will, which is designed to be recognized in multiple countries under the 1973 Convention on an International Will.

While this can be an effective tool, it does not override local inheritance laws and may still be subject to probate in multiple jurisdictions.

An international will is most useful when an expat’s assets are spread across common law countries that generally recognize foreign wills. However, in civil law or Sharia law jurisdictions, local wills may still be necessary.

For more thorough, personalized guidance, please consult an expat financial advisor.

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Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters with over 830million answer views on Quora, a widely sold book on Amazon, and a contributor on Forbes.