Estate Planning In The British Virgin Islands

• Published date: 25 November 2025
• Subject Matter: Corporate/Commercial Law, Family and Matrimonial, Corporate and Company Law, Trusts, Wills/ Intestacy/ Estate Planning
• Law Firm: Maples Group
• Author: Nicholas Holland and Myles Chingara

Aside from being one of the most beautiful sailing destinations in the world, the British Virgin Islands continues to be widely regarded as an attractive jurisdiction for estate planning by both high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. In this article, we briefly discuss a few key considerations for persons who own BVI assets.

BVI Wills

To administer or otherwise deal with British Virgin Islands ("BVI") assets of a deceased person owned in their sole name at the date of their death (which may include shares in a BVI business company or real property), a grant of representation must, at least in practice, be obtained from the BVI Probate Registry.

Although the resealing of foreign grants of representation is permitted under BVI law, at the time of writing, the BVI Probate Registry allows the resealing of foreign grants of representation from the 67 jurisdictions listed in the BVI Resealing Act 2021, and no others. Additionally, while BVI assets may be disposed of by way of a valid foreign Will (for which...