A client in Israel called me, frustrated. His mother had passed away in the U.S., leaving him a substantial inheritance. But despite her detailed will, he couldn’t access the funds. The lawyer who drew up the will hadn’t anticipated cross-border issues, and the American documents didn’t align with Israeli requirements. Moreover, the American financial institutions demanded unfamiliar paperwork he didn’t know how to provide.
Having a will isn’t enough to transfer your assets when international borders get involved. If you or your heirs live in different countries, standard estate planning may leave you with legal delays, confusion, and unnecessary costs.
Standard U.S. Estate Plans Don’t Travel Well
Many families assume a properly written U.S. will or trust covers everything. In theory it should, but I’ve seen documents that work in one country fail in another. Often clients with well-drafted U.S. estate plans run into roadblocks due to language mismatches, tax reporting requirements, or conflicting legal systems.
Even powers of attorney and health care directives may not carry over. Advisors or attorneys unfamiliar with international estates often miss these critical gaps.
In many cases, a translated Israeli will work well for U.S. brokerage accounts. But be sure to check with a cross-border advisor to confirm that what you’ve got is correct. A cross-border advisor who is familiar with multiple tax codes may be able to comment if the practicalities of asset transfer in the will could be made easier.
One Missed Step Can Cause Months of Delay
Too often, people sign legal documents in isolation—without looping in their financial team. Then, after their death (until 120 healthy years!), everyone scrambles to interpret what the deceased intended. One vague sentence or missing form can stall the process for months.
Coordinating with your advisor and lawyer during the planning stage—before anything is signed—prevents these avoidable errors. It’s the difference between a plan that works on paper and one that gets executed in a timely manner with minimal aggravation and cost.
Clarity Is the Best Gift You Can Leave Your Heirs
Many heirs struggle simply because no one knew where the will was or what to do with it. A system is key: write a final letter, share important contacts, and communicate your wishes. That’s the real inheritance, and it makes the difficult transition period much easier for your loved ones.
Want to protect your family from unnecessary stress? Schedule a free Cross-Border Financial Evaluation at profile-financial.com/call to see if— and how—we can help.
This article provides general information, not legal or financial advice. Always speak with a qualified professional about your specific situation.
Douglas Goldstein, CFP® is the director of Profile Investment Services, Ltd. www.Profile-Financial.com. He is a licensed financial professional both in the U.S. and Israel. Call (02) 624-2788 for a consultation on how to set up your American assets to meet your financial goals. Securities offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, FSI. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not those of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates. Neither PRG nor its affiliates provide tax or legal advice.
Published June 4, 2025.