Inheriting in an obscure country

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP texted me separately. The country is Wakanda if that helps anyone answer in more detail.

Ok that clears it up. Arrange for the Black Panther to meet son upon arrival at the airport and he'll take care of all formalities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speaking from personal experience as my Mum died in a foreign country. Things like putting the name of the beneficiary on their bank accounts, so they'll have no problem closing the accounts and putting the beneficiaries name on the deeds for any property would help a great deal. Those two steps would save time and lawyers fees.

Yes, but none of that is possible in certain countries. This is why we need to know the name of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Local lawyer who speaks English, and whom the mother contacts now to start the relationship.

Are you worried about this being an "enemy country", where he won't be safe or he'll be taken advantage of, or the US will look askance at his ties there? Because I'm getting that feeling now. If the mother is a local, I think there are less chances of that.

I don't know why the mother wouldn't contact the other extended relatives. They might not have talked in years, but this is surely something they could help with. Without knowing my friend's friend, who had inherited real estate in my home country without speaking the language, I agreed to help him! Had I been an extended relative, I would have felt obligated to do so.

I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill about all the wrong things, OP.People are nice in Kazakhstan

Thank you so much, this is very helpful!
Yes let’s call the country Kazakhstan for the purposes of this thread. Animosity towards US is not a big issue in this case. It’s more about “let’s fleece the dumb foreigner” and just plain gawking that the mom wants to avoid.

She has relatives and friends there of course but none of them speak more than just rudimentary English, and they are her age (she isn’t super close with their kids).

This is all something to think about. Thank you once again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I don’t think the issue is country specific. What matters is that:
-foreigners who don’t speak the language need a guide to be able to get around, unless one is super adventurous/sophisticated which this young man is not;
- legal issues need to be taken care of (inheriting and/or selling and then banking the money before transferring them) and it requires at least basic knowledge of the local language or again, a guide.

The mom has friends there but they are her age. Their kids don’t know the young man that well, and most of them don’t speak English that well. She has relatives and friends in the US as well, but again they are her age and who knows if they’ll be able to accompany her son to the funeral?

I was in this situation (as a heir). What you need is to line up a couple of lawyers or notaries (whoever handles such things in that country) and establish a relationship with them, communicating maybe once a year, the mom should initiate it. You need more than one because things happen - my lawyer passed away in the middle of handling my inheritance, so ideally it will be some sort of partnership office. It's hard logistically and emotionally to line things up when you are grieving, and lots of various grifters are out to get you. In my case, the relative didn't die right away, but we knew it was coming, so had a bit of time to talk to different people. It would have been much better if we had established contacts there.

That said, you have to accept that you will never be able to deal with the property as advantageously as someone native to the country and living there. You will sell it for less and you will get fleeced somewhere along the way.

Thank you, this is very helpful. I wish they could find a rep to deal with the lawyers/notaries/realtors but it is what it is. I think in any case they need to start developing an English speaking network where they live. It’s a great idea that somehow escaped me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I don’t think the issue is country specific. What matters is that:
-foreigners who don’t speak the language need a guide to be able to get around, unless one is super adventurous/sophisticated which this young man is not;
- legal issues need to be taken care of (inheriting and/or selling and then banking the money before transferring them) and it requires at least basic knowledge of the local language or again, a guide.

The mom has friends there but they are her age. Their kids don’t know the young man that well, and most of them don’t speak English that well. She has relatives and friends in the US as well, but again they are her age and who knows if they’ll be able to accompany her son to the funeral?

I was in this situation (as a heir). What you need is to line up a couple of lawyers or notaries (whoever handles such things in that country) and establish a relationship with them, communicating maybe once a year, the mom should initiate it. You need more than one because things happen - my lawyer passed away in the middle of handling my inheritance, so ideally it will be some sort of partnership office. It's hard logistically and emotionally to line things up when you are grieving, and lots of various grifters are out to get you. In my case, the relative didn't die right away, but we knew it was coming, so had a bit of time to talk to different people. It would have been much better if we had established contacts there.

That said, you have to accept that you will never be able to deal with the property as advantageously as someone native to the country and living there. You will sell it for less and you will get fleeced somewhere along the way.

PP. I did not have to travel at all, if that's your concern. My lawyer had the power of attorney or whatever the local equivalent, and just sent me the money once it was all settled, including goingthrough the accounts of the deceased lawyer.

I think travel isn’t the biggest of their concerns RN but it could become one, so it’s very helpful, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You always need a local lawyers. Always. In some countries it’s illegal to take more than a few thousand dollars out of the country at all! You need an expert in local requirements.

The mom will take care of the legal stuff, with or without lawyers, the question is more about him having to travel to deal with the whole thing

You're being incredibly unclear. So there will be local lawyers there handling things. What does the son need then? Surely someone in the law office can speak English, or provide a translator if not.

This is the problem. No there won’t be anyone (according to mom). Now that I am thinking about it, I think their need is someone trustworthy AND English speaking which might be a problem (outside of the capital).

The lawyer mom chooses is likely trustworthy. They can provide an English translator or son can find one -- the US embassy in each country keeps a list for Americans who need assistance.

What is this mythical country where it's so difficult to find an English translator? I've traveled far and wide, and while English may not be widely spoken in many countries, it's still possible to find people who speak it. It is essentialy the global language after all.

Trustworthiness and willingness to deal with legal stuff is key, not any English speaker is good for their purpose!

[Anonymous]

Download Duolingo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speaking from personal experience as my Mum died in a foreign country. Things like putting the name of the beneficiary on their bank accounts, so they'll have no problem closing the accounts and putting the beneficiaries name on the deeds for any property would help a great deal. Those two steps would save time and lawyers fees.

Thank you and I am sorry about your Mom.
I think this is all taken care of. It’s more about the beneficiary actually enforcing their rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking from personal experience as my Mum died in a foreign country. Things like putting the name of the beneficiary on their bank accounts, so they'll have no problem closing the accounts and putting the beneficiaries name on the deeds for any property would help a great deal. Those two steps would save time and lawyers fees.

Yes, but none of that is possible in certain countries. This is why we need to know the name of the country.

As I said the legal side will be taken care of. She doesn’t need your advice about the country she lives in, neither does she need mine.
It’s more about going to ANY country outside of the so called first world and not being in the capital and still being able to navigate things.
I’ve gotten some great ideas from this thread already thank you!

[Anonymous]

OP here: so it all boils down to finding someone who is relatively young, very trustworthy, speaks English, knows the local ways and willing to act as a representative.
Another option is actually selling in advance and then renting like someone suggested, however precarious it is in their case.
I will update once I have spoken to the mom and son and if/when they make the decision but it’s probably going to take them a while to think it all over.
Thank you so much for all the food for thought!