Do I Need to Update My Will If I Move Abroad?

Short answer

If you’re moving abroad, your Canadian Will might still work, but possibly only for your Canadian assets. Start by speaking with a lawyer in your new country.

Long answer

If you’re moving abroad, start with this: talk to a lawyer in the country you’re moving to. That’s your first step—because every country handles foreign Wills differently. Some accept them. Some ignore them. Some limit what they control. Some require a local Will whether you like it or not.

Once you know the local rules, you can decide how to structure your Canadian Will around them. In most cases, it’s possible to make a new Will in Canada restricting your Canadian Will to Canadian assets only. That keeps it clean and avoids legal overlap with your new country’s system.

If you’re moving to the EU, you may be able to choose Canadian law to govern your worldwide estate—but only if the country you’re moving to applies specific EU succession regulations (most do). This choice must be made clearly in your Will. Without it, local law might apply by default—including forced heirship rules that dictate beneficiaries you weren’t expecting.

That’s why many Canadians living abroad use two Wills: one for Canada, one for local assets in their new country. But they have to be carefully coordinated. Done wrong, one Will can revoke the other. Done right, they work in parallel and keep both legal systems happy.

Bottom line: the Canadian Will might still work. But don’t guess. The rules shift when borders do.

Read more: Global Estate Planning for Canadians — what changes when your life crosses borders, and how to protect your estate across countries.

Make sure your Will works internationally

This content is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a lawyer about your specific situation.