2025 Developments in Estate Planning for International Families

This CLE/CPE webinar will provide estate planners with an in-depth analysis of available estate planning techniques for international families in light of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). The panel will discuss legal challenges; the impact of new U.S. tax law changes; transfer tax planning; and methods in managing foreign business interests, investments, and unreported income or accounts; and other complexities involved when a U.S. taxpayer has a foreign spouse or direct family member owning foreign or inbound-U.S. assets amid 2025 tax law changes.

Many U.S. citizens and permanent residents have non-U.S. spouses or family members or property interests abroad; likewise, many non-U.S. citizens/non-U.S. residents have U.S. property interests or U.S. family members. Under current U.S. tax law, estate planning can create some specific complications for international families; however, more issues are presented by the OBBB.

U.S. tax rules for estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes may offer gift planning opportunities. In contrast, some rules for the income taxation of corporations and partnerships may impact how investments are structured. Also, holding business and investment assets through foreign corporations may subject U.S. shareholders to additional tax liability.

On May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the OBBB, which includes extensions and expansions to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as other provisions that impact estate and income tax planning.

Estate planning for international families must consider which countries' laws govern the disposition of assets, as well as the income, estate, and gift tax treatment of specific transactions, including the interaction of multiple tax regimes in light of pending U.S. tax reform.

Listen as our experienced panel guides attendees on how to plan the estates of clients with interests in foreign business entities, real estate, and financial accounts in light of pending U.S. tax reform. The panel will cover the legal and tax considerations when planning for the disposition of each type of asset and the implications of U.S. tax law.