For thousands of NRIs, life abroad brings growth, opportunities, and global exposure — yet their financial and emotional roots in India remain strong. While NRIs often plan investments, insurance, taxation, and retirement, one crucial area is still ignored: creating an India-specific Will.
Top global legal experts and estate-planning books — including Denis Clifford’s “Make Your Own Will” (Nolo Press), Alexander A. Bove Jr.’s “The Complete Guide to Wills, Estates & Trusts”, and the “American Bar Association Guide to Wills & Estates” — all emphasize a universal truth: when assets exist in multiple jurisdictions, each must have its own legal Will.
For NRIs, this means one thing clearly: if you have assets in India, you must have an India Will, even if you live abroad.
1. Indian Assets Follow Indian Law — No Matter Where You Live
One of the strongest legal principles stated in estate-law literature (including “Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell”) is that the law follows the location of the asset, not the residence of the owner.
This means that:
are all governed by Indian succession laws, regardless of whether you stay in Dubai, London, Toronto, or Singapore.
If an NRI does not leave behind a properly drafted India Will, their heirs may face:
Estate-planning experts from “The Complete Guide to Wills, Estates & Trusts” warn that without a jurisdiction-specific Will, families end up in long, unnecessary legal battles — a reality many NRIs underestimate.
2. Without an India Will, Your Family Faces Long Delays & Court Processes
Legal books worldwide emphasize that a Will is the only document that simplifies inheritance.
This is echoed strongly in Mary Randolph’s “The Executor’s Guide”, which explains how families struggle when a Will is absent or unclear.
For NRIs, the absence of an India Will creates bigger challenges:
This process can take anywhere between 6 months to 5 years, depending on the assets.
A clear, legally valid India Will eliminates almost all these complications — making it far easier for your loved ones to inherit what rightfully belongs to them.
3. An India Will Can Be Created From Anywhere in the World
According to the American Bar Association Guide to Wills & Estates, a Will is valid as long as it:
Indian law follows the same principles.
You do not need to be physically present in India to create your India Will.
This means:
You can be in the UAE, UK, USA, Australia, or anywhere — and still create a fully valid Will for your Indian assets.
Estate-law books such as Nolo’s “Make Your Own Will” and “Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell” further explain that cross-border Wills are not only legal but also highly recommended for global citizens, especially those with multi-country assets.
4. Multiple Countries = Multiple Wills (As Recommended by Global Legal Experts)
One of the most widely accepted estate-planning recommendations comes from top books like:
· "The American Bar Association's Guide to Wills and Estates"
They all emphasize:
If you have assets in different countries, create separate Wills for each country.
Why?
Because laws vary across borders, and a single Will often creates:
When NRIs create a separate India Will — dedicated only to Indian assets — the probate process becomes faster, clearer, and legally complaint.
This prevents foreign courts from interfering with Indian assets, which is a common problem when NRIs rely on one global Will.
5. A Will Is Your Legal Voice — and the Strongest Form of Protection for Your Family
Every estate-planning book — from “Make Your Own Will” to “Wills and Trusts in a Nutshell” — emphasizes the same fact:
A Will is the only legal tool that ensures your intentions are honored after your lifetime.
For NRIs, this becomes even more important because:
Without an India Will, your family may face lengthy disputes or lose their rightful share.
With an India Will, however:
In simple terms:
Your Will speaks for you when you cannot.
Why WillCraft Is the Most Reliable Platform for NRIs Creating an India Will
Modern legal experts emphasize using structured Will-creation platforms to avoid errors — a concept supported in books like “The Complete Guide to Wills, Estates & Trusts.”
WillCraft follows the same global legal standards recommended by these texts:
✔ Built specifically for Indian law
Ensures your Will matches the Indian Succession Act and asset-transfer rules.
✔ Perfect for NRIs
Create your Will from any country in minutes.
✔ Secure, encrypted, and confidential
Your personal data remains protected at all times.
✔ Simple, guided process
Step-by-step questions ensure your Will is accurate, legally valid, and complete.
✔ Easy to update anytime
Life changes — and your Will can be revised whenever needed.
For NRIs, this makes WillCraft a trusted choice for safeguarding their Indian legacy.
Conclusion
Leading global legal books have made one point clear:
When your assets exist in multiple countries, each country requires its own dedicated Will.
For NRIs, an India Will is not optional — it is essential.
It ensures:
Your India Will is the foundation of your legacy — and the strongest way to protect the people you love.
Create Your India Will Today
📞 Call: 9595889988
📧 Email: accounts@willcraft.co.in
Kal Ki Tayyari Aaj
WillCraft - © Copyright . All rights reserved.
A Will is the best way of communicating your list of assets to your family members. It is currently estimated that assets worth up to ₹1.5 lakh crore are lying unclaimed in Indian accounts, because families are not even aware they exist once their loved ones have passed away.
