Drawing up a will.

@CHRISLANGTON

Very nice you're doing this.

There was a recent thread on the Philippines forum you might be interested in reading. See post #5 for one long-time member's solution.

@CHRISLANGTON

Hi Chris,

As an expat, I went through the same thoughts. When the time comes I wanted to make sure that my wife and family would be looked after.

The first and foremost thing is to work out what you what done.

Income coming in will be continued to be paid to my wife.

Where my/our personal property and belongings would go.

Monies invested would be transferred to.

Who has the power of the executor for the will.

and anything else that would need to be done, like burial/ cremation etc.

Once this had been done, I used Chat GPD to draft up a will.

The will was to include all the above details in English, and Vietnamese.

Once I was happy with the final result, I printed the will out and had it notorized with the Australian Consulate in HCMC and the local Vietnamese Government.

It was accepted and is recognised as a legal will by the Vietnam government , and is held the hands of my wife.

No lawyer used.

Hope this helps

Thank you.  After posting my question I read that a lawyer isn’t necessary for simpler bequests (a notary being sufficient) but I like your idea of drafting something bilingual first on A.I. 

Hello,

While you can write a will on your own, I would still recommend consulting a lawyer who specializes in Succession and Inheritance Law, both in Vietnam and in your country. Keep in mind that a notary only notarizes your desires; they do not comment about any possible unrenounceable rights.

For example, if a couple owns an apartment but has children without Vietnamese citizenship, those children cannot inherit the property itself, only its monetary value.

Another example: if you haven't registered your Vietnamese marriage in your country (or vice versa), it is best to do it while alive to reduce post-mortem paperwork and expedite any procedures with that country.

Another important point: you need to find out and make it clear to your spouse how to proceed when the day comes. In addition to the Vietnamese death certificate, Vietnam will require the death registration from your home country before the remains can be handled.

On the other hand, it is even more important to get advice for the reverse scenario—if the foreigner gets widowed first. Here in Vietnam, the deceased's 50% share doesn't automatically go entirely to the surviving spouse. Not to mention the headache of regularizing your residency status and losing your work permit exemption.