TOD forms: foreign beneficiary ok?

[Tandoor]

What is the name of your state? Washington
I wish to leave a large portion of my estate to a foreign national living in another country. To do this most simply, I have simply filled in TOD (Transfer on Death) forms for certain investments, and listed this person as the beneficiary of these investments when I die. Question: Is this going to do the trick? Do such TOD forms really sidestep the need for mentioning this person in my will? Another question: does the status of this person as a foreign national make these TOD forms invalid? Am I missing something?

Thanks for any advice.

Tandoor

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? Washington
I wish to leave a large portion of my estate to a foreign national living in another country. To do this most simply, I have simply filled in TOD (Transfer on Death) forms for certain investments, and listed this person as the beneficiary of these investments when I die. Question: Is this going to do the trick? Do such TOD forms really sidestep the need for mentioning this person in my will? Another question: does the status of this person as a foreign national make these TOD forms invalid? Am I missing something?

Thanks for any advice.

Tandoor

Q: Is this going to do the trick?

A: No one can say without seeing the docs.


Q: Do such TOD forms really sidestep the need for mentioning this person in my will?

A: Yes.



Q: does the status of this person as a foreign national make these TOD forms invalid?

A: No. This is America--you can give stuff to anyone.


Q: Am I missing something?

A: I don't know. Check your stuff and see if any of it is gone.

 

[Dandy Don]

Do you know now who you want your executor to be?

Please be sure to leave detailed instructions about the name and address and phone number of this beneficiary in your personal papers so your executor will know how to handle this. There is a possibility that the foreign national may have moved/changed addresses by the time that you die and if that happens it's going to be a bit harder (but not impossible) for the executor to pay for a search for to hire a private investigator to locate the beneficiary's whereabouts, so provide as much detailed information as you have right now to make it easier for your executor to contact this beneficiary if the company holding the TOD asset is unable to locate the beneficiary. May even be wise to ask the foreign national now for the name and address of his place of employment and his/her other family members contact information.