Legal translation and language interpretation services come in handy in the context of international wills. When drafting a will that is international in scope, several key steps must be taken, including:
- The will must be made in writing.
- The will should be signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses
- The signing should also take place before an authorized person designated to act in relation to international wills. Typical examples of these individuals include members of the diplomatic and consular serve of a particular country or foreign service.
If the will is made in this form, it will generally be found valid, regardless of where it is made, the location of the assets or the nationality, domicile or residence of the testator. However, when dealing with an international will, it is good practice to ensure the will also meets the conditions of the other involved countries – which often means including and submitting a foreign language translation of the will.