Too many expats have put off doing their will and inheritance plans. Here are some reasons that can save you money and make you feel more secure living in Costa Rica. A last will and testament means making life easier for the left behind. Also, creating a will makes it much more difficult scavengers who show up when an expat dies and try to steal assets from the rightful heirs.

Thinking of death is definitely not fun, but a will is for the living heirs and in order to protect their assets it is worth the time investing in this process. A will made in Costa Rica may turn out to be a better choice than one made in the United States.

It may be cheaper. A will in the United States can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars if prepared by a lawyer, whereas a will in Costa Rica prepared by a notary is much less expensive.

It is more official. In Costa Rica, there are two types of wills; open will or public will. An open will is the safest and most official since it is recorded in the national archives. Being in the national archive it is available when needed and safe from any suspicious activity. In the United States, wills are not recorded and often are lost or tampered with by greedy heirs or supposed friends.

It can be general or specific. A will recorded in Costa Rica can include your assets all over the world or specific assets herein Costa Rica. A specific will is a great way to leave an asset for a friend in this country, without making other heirs aware of the transaction.

It is simpler to probate. When someone dies, and he or she has an open, public will in which the beneficiaries are older than 18 and no disagreement emerges from the execution of the will, a fast track probate is available called sucesorio notarial. The probate process takes only a few months vs. years when no will exists.

All people should plan to protect their assets in death, especially expats living in Costa Rica. A good will is one way to do so.

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