Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice

What does this qualification cover?

• Review of the Trust Concept
• Marketing Trust Services and Accepting New Business
• The Trust Instrument (double module)
• Choice of Law to Govern the Trust (double module)
• The Role and Status of a Protector
• Estate Planning and Forced Heirship Issues (double module)
• Asset Protection Trusts
• Purpose Trusts
• Private Foundations

Downloads

• Brochure (PDF)
• Syllabus (PDF)

How is it delivered?

The core programme is delivered through a blend of distance-learning and virtual workshops as part of a revision-week series provided online by experts in the field who possess vast amounts of professional experience and practical knowledge.

The Diploma in International Trust Management consists of four Advanced Certificates:

• Trusts:Law and Practice
• Company Law and Practice
• Trustees Duties: Investment and Management of the Trust Fund
• Principles of International Tax, AML and Compliance

This Diploma is recognised worldwide as the benchmark qualification for those working in the international trusts industry. ​​​​​​

• Explain and advise upon the roles, responsibilities and duties of trustees
• Appreciate how trust companies can market trust services in a competitive environment
• Comply with requirement upon being appointed as trustee, including in relation to AML, FATCA and CRS
• Be able to construe typical provisions of a trust instrument, including dispositive provisions of discretionary, settlor-directed and life interest trust
• Understand how to exercise a dispositive power to pay or apply income, ·appoint an absolute interest or upon new trusts and of re-settlement
• Understand the administrative powers and other provisions that trustees may require to administer the trust, invest and manage the trust fund
• Appreciate the significance of conflict of laws issues, choice and change of the governing law of the trust
• Administer a trust that confers dispositive and/or administrative powers upon a protector
• Discuss, advise on and implement an estate plan by use of a trust, in particular for persons resident and domiciled in a forced heirship jurisdiction
• Understand how offshore trusts may be used to protect family wealth (from creditors, claimants, litigants, trustees-in bankruptcy, and how to structure an asset-protection trust
• Administer a purpose trust used for typical functions and to hold certain assets, such as shares in a PTC or employee-benefit plan
• Understand the characteristics of a foundation, how to register and administer one as a member of its council.
   

Who would find this qualification useful?

This Advanced Certificate and the Diploma that it is included in, is suitable for a wide range of practitioners. Past graduates have included members of the accountancy, banking, legal and trust professions (at all levels); tax advisors and independent financial advisors.

What are the entry requirements?

Admission depends on meeting the Entry Level requirements, outlined in the Qualifications and Membership Framework.

The Full Diploma in International Trust Management provides 120 Diploma Level Credits (each individual Advanced Certificate that makes up this Diploma provides 30 Diploma Level credits). Find out more about how many credits you need to reach Full STEP membership.

How long will it take to complete

This Advanced Certificate takes six months to complete, from enrolling to sitting the examination.

How much will it cost?

The course fees for Advanced Certificates can be found on the CLTI website.

Where is it available?

This course is available worldwide. For full details visit the CLTI website.

What are the course dates?

For a full list of course dates applicable to your region, please see the CLTI website.

Find out more information on enrolment.

For enquiries on course enrolment please contact CLTI at cltinternational@centlaw.com or +44(0)121 362 7733. For any other queries regarding professional development please email STEP at pd@step.org.