STEP Advanced Certificate in Administration of Trusts (Northern Ireland)

The course enables you to improve your technical knowledge of the issues arising in trust and estate practice, enhancing your ability to give holistic advice to your clients as a trusted advisor. It increases your understanding of the administration of trusts and estates and enables you to give practical advice on the law and procedures involved.

You will be able to

• Describe the classification and types of trusts, their uses, what affects their validity, their premature cessation and under what circumstances they can and cannot be altered.
• Advise on the taxation of each trust type.
• Explain, advise and comment on the use of the trust in modern tax planning.
• Understand and interpret the legal complexities and language pertinent to trust deeds.
• Describe the roles, responsibilities, limitations and liabilities of trustees.
• Advise on the legal formalities involved in the preparation of a valid will and be alert to the pitfalls.
• Analyse the content and validity of an existing will, assess its value to a client and advise to what extent it will meet their objectives.
• Advise on the tax-effective will.
• Advise on the tax implications and legal considerations of making lifetime gifts and gifts made in contemplation of death.
• Describe the roles, responsibilities, limitations and liabilities of the executor.
• Advise on the legal management of the client estate, including probate and intestacy issues, evaluation of any risks involved, deeds of variation, disclaimers and insolvency.
• Advise on taxation issues relating to the transference of private client wealth, specifically inheritance tax and capital gains tax, and how the burden of taxation can be minimised.
• Construct and interpret trust and client estate accounts.

Students of this course typically include:

• Legal and trust professionals
• Support staff and paralegals
• Accountants and banking professionals
• Charity specialists
• Tax advisors
• Independent financial advisors
• Executorship administrators

• Successful completion of the course will award students with 30 Diploma-Level credits towards STEP membership. 
• Ideal for practitioners looking for professional accreditation, moving into or already working within the trusts and estates profession. 
• A recognised ‘gold-standard’ professional qualification for those working in the industry, globally recognised by employers, regulators, clients, and professionals. 
• Ability to grow your own professional network, meeting students from a range of professions providing an opportunity for networking, building relationships, and sharing study tips/support as a cohort. 
• Students can submit academic queries to a dedicated programme content team. 

60 Entry-Level Credits 

Note: Applicants must have obtained 60 STEP Entry-Level credits to enrol onto this course or be a member of STEP. Visit STEP's Qualifications and Membership to understand how to apply. 

Please note all courses are delivered fully online. 

Once you have successfully this course, you will gain 30 Diploma-Level credits towards STEP membership and be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Administration of Trusts (Northern Ireland).

2024 Intakes 

Students interested in enrolling onto this Advanced Certificate for an intake in 2024 will need to complete the Course Enquiry section to register their interest and receive confirmation as to whether the next sitting will be going ahead.

Prospective students registering their interest for this course will be informed by the course closing date whether the intake will be going ahead (subject to sufficient interest) and invited to apply, subject to the entry requirements. 

Please follow the enquiry section of this page to register your details and find out more.

May 2024 Sitting (Exam Only Date)

• Administration of Trusts – 9 May 2024
• Taxation of Trusts and Estates – 7 May 2024

Nov 2024 Sitting (Exam Only Date) 

• Administration of Estates – 5 November 2024
• Trust and Estate Accounting – 7 November 2024