Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the management and disposal of a person’s assets during the person’s life in preparation for a person’s future incapacity or death. While on its face, this may come off as simple, many individuals struggle with estate planning for a variety of reasons. This is especially true for those who have accumulated substantial wealth, referred to in this book as Wealth Creators.

For families based in multiple jurisdictions (commonly referred to as “Cross-Border Families”), estate planning may be even more arduous. This book aims to deliver workable solutions to Wealth Creators with family members and assets spread throughout several countries.

For non-U.S. persons with assets in the U.S. or descendants in the U.S. with U.S. citizenship or a U.S. green card, both the perceived cost of estate planning and the out-of-pocket legal fees and accounting expenses can be quite considerable. Moreover, depending on the Wealth Creator’s circumstances, the estate planning process can be unpredictable and may change over time. While each Wealth Creator’s approach to estate planning can and should be customized, we believe that knowledge of common structures used by others can serve as an important reference point.