Most people think estate planning only covers what happens in your home state or country. But if you own real estate in multiple U.S. states—or even overseas—your estate plan needs to be more strategic.
Here’s what you need to know about using a U.S.-based trust to streamline and protect your legacy.
✍️ 1. A U.S. Trust Can Hold Property in Any State
Let’s say you live in Alabama, but also own vacation property in Maine, California, and Texas. With a properly prepared Alabama trust, you can hold all of those out-of-state properties under that single trust.
How?
By recording new deeds in each of those states that retitle the properties into the name of your trust (you, as trustee).
✅ The Benefit
This allows you to avoid multiple probate proceedings—one for each state where you own property. Without a trust, your heirs would face separate court processes in Maine, California, and Texas to transfer ownership. That means more time, more legal fees, and more stress.
🌍 2. You Can Even Create a U.S. Trust While Living Abroad
Yes—even if you don’t live in the U.S., you can still create and use a U.S. trust for your estate.
This is true whether you are:
A U.S. citizen living abroad
A non-citizen with U.S.-based legal or financial interests
One example: A client currently living in Central America (and owning property there via a corporate entity) is setting up a U.S. trust to hold that foreign entity.
✅ The key: The property is assigned to the U.S. trust via ownership of the corporate entity.
⚠️ Legal Check: Foreign Country Compliance
If you live outside the U.S. or plan to include foreign property in your U.S. trust:
👉 Always consult a local attorney to ensure the trust arrangement complies with that country’s laws.
Some nations allow this freely. Others restrict it. A legal check helps you avoid complications later.
🧭 Bottom Line
If you own property in multiple states—or even outside the U.S.—a single, well-crafted U.S. trust can:
Avoid multiple probates
Centralize control of your estate
Streamline transfers to your heirs
Save your family time and money
📅 Thinking of Creating a Trust?
Whether you’re based in the U.S. or living abroad, we can help you design a trust that works across borders and jurisdictions.
📅 Work with Jerry [AL, FL, or MS only]
Don't let state lines or international borders complicate your legacy.
Thanks for reading, please note this video is for informational purposes only. As always please get professional help before making decision on how to protect your assets. If this was helpful, share it with someone who owns out-of-state or international property—they'll thank you for it.
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