WILLS - September is discount month!

[Heather]

For anyone planning to create a Mexican will September is a good time to do so. Having been told September was Guanajuato's 'half price will month' we went ahead and have found the process very straightforward. We wrote down what we wanted, included all our details and those of our beneficiaries, chose a person to be our executor, and went to our English speaking notaria publica who did the whole process while we waited and charged us each a very reasonable fee. Fantastico!

[DML]

Perhaps you know the answer to this question......I was told that my husband and I need a Mexican will (we have a 10 year old daughter). We of course have a will back in the States that covers the basics. Plus, we have no assets here. Additionally, we are not permanent residents. We are here on tourist visas and are only going to live in Mexico for a year. We plan to return home next summer after the school year.

Is there any reason we need a will while here in Mexico or does our US will suffice?

[Heather]

I'm no expert on this but as far as I can see if you have no assets in Mexico there is no need for a will here. We have a house here so a will is a good idea for us. Our wills in Australia also exist to cover our assets there.

[mr bill]

Discount Month????? I've never heard of that. How much did the will set you back?

The key thing if you own a home here is that if you die intestate the University of Guanajuato "inherits" your property - not your survivors - and that includes your spouse.

Bill

[Heather]

Was 1,400 pesos each. We believe the full fee is around 3,000 pesos. And yes we had heard if you die intestate here your assets go to the GTO university. However our notaria corrected us on this in that close relatives can claim the assets with proof of identity and relationship to the deceased.

[mr bill]

Heather it does seem that you have a discounted will. I paid around 2500 some years back for mine. What a crazy sale.

Of course Mexico is famous for sales like 6 months interest free or some such on liquor purchases at various times. Or maybe it was 6 months no payments. I forget.

Bill

[colleen]

The key thing if you own a home here is that if you die intestate the University of Guanajuato "inherits" your property - not your survivors - and that includes your spouse.


That's why I'm always surprised when someone buys in only one name. When we bought, the notario was saying it would be cheaper to put in one name and make a will. I hated probate in the US and would be sure to hate it here also. They make it sound like it would be soooo easy to just make a will. It's kind of "pay me now or pay me later". We paid for derechos for both of us tho it was our original idea to have it just in my name. I sure wouldn't want Sven out on the street. In our neighborhood there is a home near us that is rumored to be owned by the notario who did the work for the American couple who owned it. Maybe he made himself the beneficiary, one way or another. I don't want to have the conversation that would be necessary to decide who gets what so we have agreed that for now it's ok if the U of Gto takes it. If our kids are smart and lucky they will decide to be more friendly before we lose all our marbles or die.

[laconstance]

Who knew about such discounts? I had a will prepared at the same time I bought my house in Guanajuato. My notario rolled the cost into the cost of preparing the paperwork for the sale, deed, powers of attorney, the complete package of everything I needed, so I can't say how much it might have been if I had gone into the office and wanted one later. For sure, I paid way less than even $1,400 pesos. But, friends who have had them prepared have paid anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000.

Your will should cover all your real and personal property, and be sure the price includes registration of the Testamento. The warning I got from the notario is that if you own property in M?xico, and die without a will, then you have to go through the M?xican equivalent of probate. No way do your heirs want to do THAT!