Overseas Assets Case Study: Cross-Border Estate Planning
- Ray Best
- Nov 27, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 9, 2025
Protecting Overseas Assets for High-Net-Worth Families
A family with a substantial UK estate, encompassing multiple domestic properties and a valuable holiday home in Portugal, approached us through an accountant. Their aim was clear: leave £1 million to each child. However, one daughter was facing personal challenges, and the parents recognised that leaving her a large inheritance outright could create risk rather than security. At the same time, the overseas asset brought complex cross-border legal, tax, and succession issues that threatened the coherence of the estate plan.
Our Approach
We began by guiding the family through detailed, plain-language explanations of the legal and tax implications - both in the UK and Portugal. We then recommended establishing a specially designed discretionary trust for the daughter's share.
The solution enabled the parents to provide for her financially during their lifetime while giving trustees the flexibility and discretion needed to manage the funds responsibly and protect them from external risks.
Simultaneously, we addressed the Portuguese property by coordinating with our international adviser network. We ensured the wills and trusts complied with both Portuguese and UK inheritance laws, preventing potential conflicts, delays, or unexpected tax exposure.
The Outcome
The result was a carefully balanced plan delivering equality, security, and foresight. Each child was provided for equally. The daughter's future was safeguarded through a trust structure tailored to her individual circumstances. The Portuguese holiday home was seamlessly integrated into the overall estate strategy, ensuring clarity and compliance for future years.
What began as a complex cross-border estate became an aligned, robust structure - preserving both the family's wealth and their intentions.
Why This Matters for You and Your Clients
For accountants working with high-net-worth and business owner clients, this case highlights three critical insights:
Specialist structuring is necessary for cross-border estates to manage assets across different jurisdictions in a unified and compliant manner.
Where clients face family or personal vulnerability, a trust solution can add the layer of protection, oversight, and flexibility needed - far beyond a standard will.
By partnering with a planning specialist, you can expand your advisory services into complex areas (international property, trusts, and tax) and strengthen your client relationships.
Why Partner with Wills, Tax & Trusts Ltd.?
We bring the technical depth, global perspective, and collaborative model that accountants value. You stay at the centre of the relationship; we provide the specialist estate planning structure behind the scenes.
Together, we deliver tailored solutions that protect wealth, manage risks, and reflect family realities - no matter how complex.
Strengthen Your Advice with Specialist Insight
Access our Accountant Portal for trusted updates, technical guidance, and strategic commentary on estate planning, inheritance tax, and trust law. Built exclusively for professional advisers, it equips you with the knowledge and tools to support high-net-worth and business clients with confidence - and stay ahead of regulatory change.
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