top of page
"Every Expat Needs this Book!"
“The Gringo Guide to Mexico Estate Planning is an excellent resource that I highly recommend for every Expat. The saying, “you don’t know what you don’t know” is so applicable here. Not owning a home and as rather young retirees, we never considered estate planning a necessity. We also made assumptions that the laws and death process would be similar to that of our country of origin. However, having recently experienced a loss here in Mexico, I can assure you they are not. I wish that we had the knowledge provided by this excellent, easy to understand book and had implemented the recommendations. It would have made a difficult time much easier.”
- CC 3/23/2019
"Plan ahead if you are a home owner and especially a foreigner living in Mexico"
“As an expat in Mexico, reading this book has allowed me to look at our situations, and be better prepared for the inevitable. Our primary residence is in Mexico and probably our last home. This book is a general guide for how the law, in regards to estate planning works in Mexico. Laws differ across Mexico’s states and this book is not meant to be a legal guide. I found it to be useful, informative, and easy to understand. It's broken down by topics. In addition to estate planning, it leaves clear instructions for handling a final illness and death of a relative/friend. The writer is very knowledgeable, and communicates in such a way to get me to ask questions that I had no idea we should be asking.
I really liked the appendices that include sample documents to get you started on planning your own estate. I have already recommended this book to several friends.”
- CLCF 3/27/2019
"Easy to Read Guide by a Trusted Source"
“I’ve read a few other books by Murry and like the others, this one is written in his easy to understand language that makes complex topics understandable to the average reader. There is really no other similar resource that so comprehensively and accessibly covers estate planning for foreigners in Mexico and he is an author I can trust on the subject. I felt that this book not only answered all my questions, but, more importantly, made me ask questions I had no idea I should be asking.
This book is a general primer for how the law, especially when it comes to estate planning, works in Mexico. The author makes it abundantly clear that laws differ across Mexico’s many states and that, therefore, this book is not meant to be a legal guide but a blueprint to start asking questions of professionals where you are. I consider this a strength of the book -- too many Mexico guides claim to be all-inclusive, failing to take into account the nuances of state law and local customs.
While written from a U.S. and Canadian-centric perspective, the guide is valuable to any nationality. It also covers the topics of same-sex relationships and the impact of common law marriage on estate planning in Mexico. There is something in this guide for everyone.
This blueprint covers everything, from how the Mexican legal system is generally different from that in Canada and the US to all the details of estate planning, including organ donation. As a Canadian, I appreciated the Canada-specific advice in some sections. I also really like the appendices that include a comprehensive list of the matters you need to put in order and sample documents to get you started on planning your own estate.
As a an expat in Mexico, this book has forced me to take a hard look at my own situation, especially in regards to legal residency for estate matters, and left me feeling more excited to get going on my own estate planning journey than overwhelmed because the book makes the subject feel accessible and manageable.”
- RC 3/18/2019
"Easy to Follow Guide"
“Too many of us wish to avoid topics surrounding death. This is generally true whether the emotional discussion with our family or the many complicated legal factors are on the table. In the US there are burial, religious, taxation, legal & financial, not overburdening our heirs in what is almost universally a time of crisis, and myriad other factors to be taken into consideration. To compound the difficulties laws vary by state.
When one is an expat of whatever kind the difficulties geometrically increase. The fact that a majority of expats here in Mexico are retirees and thus older and that we are here for a protracted period makes a more salient case for pursuing the issues discussed in this book. As Mr. page notes the laws of Mexico also become operative & “prevail”. This, inevitably, adds an extra dimension of uncertainty and anxiety which, in turn may increase avoidance. Of course the language gap, especially involving technical legalize can cause anxiety even in the most stalwart of us.
In the Gringo Guide…..Estate Planning, Mr. Page, a former lawyer in the border state of Texas, & currently an expat himself, has undertaken the task of informing the expat community as to the nature and idiosyncrasies of Mexican processes, in English, and how to plan for those of us here. This appears to be a 3rd edition with copyright dates of 2013, 2015, & 2019.
The book consists of mostly short chapters covering such topics as differences in Mexican vs. US laws, Medical Directives, Living Wills, Power of Attorney, Common Law & Same sex Marriage as well as others. The chapters seem to begin in a general fashion and sequentially narrow to more specificity as they proceed. If a chapter has a relevant form it is helpfully referenced.
Mr. Page is a talented writer I who seems to transform a ‘deadly’ boring subject into a flowing narrative. The book is thorough without being overly detailed. As its title suggests it is a “Guide” as opposed to intending to result in a finished product. He seems to recognize this and suggests a caveat stating it’s “not legal advice” & “you will need to have the papers completed with the aid of a Mexican Lawyer or Notario.
The book can serve as a near step-by step guide for the expat to follow. This is further advanced by a helpful set of appendices at the end which contain examples of forms to aid in gathering the necessary information that will assist in codifying one’s wishes in an acceptable legal manner. As a retired Psychologist I can lament the lack of psychological aspects, some of which I alluded to in this review. However, this was not the intent of the writer nor does it detract from the helpful information provided. The book in itself should in lessen anxiety and thus willingness to proceed in pursuance of such an important step in our lives.”
- MC 3/29/2019
bottom of page