Mexican wills must be written in Spanish and signed before a notario. The cost is quite reasonable compared to a will in the U.S. or Canada.

Most notarios offer a simple fill-in-the-blank template, well suited to clients who own only one or two properties in Mexico and intend to leave them to family. The format identifies you, your heirs, an executor, and substitutes — covering the possibility that an heir passes before you or that a named executor is unavailable or declines.

Typically, the notario asks you to handwrite the will, which they then translate into Spanish. At signing time, a translator reads it back to you before you sign, and the handwritten original stays in the notario's records.

To prevent any conflict between your Mexican will and one you already hold in your home country, we suggest your Mexican will state plainly something like: "This will applies only to my property in Mexico." Your notario's standard form may already contain such a clause.

Also worth knowing: a Mexican will does not cover bank accounts. Beneficiaries for your Mexican accounts must be designated directly with the bank when you open them.

Whether your circumstances are simple or complex, connect with one of our agents — they can assist you or refer you to a specialized attorney.