STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates
Get detailed insight into issues that arise from cross-border estate and succession planning.
This Advanced Certificate can be taken as part of the STEP Diploma.
Course details
The course will explore the issues that advisers need to consider when advising clients with a cross-border aspect to their estate.
- Efficient cross-border estate administration: Learn how to administer a cross-border estate efficiently, encompassing various legal systems and considering issues of property, intestacy, and conventions.
- Cross-jurisdictional expertise: Appreciate fundamental differences between common law, civil law, and Shariah law systems, providing insights into their approaches to succession and family matters.
- Practical application skills: Acquire hands-on knowledge to advise on the practical application of EU Regulation 650/2012 and understand approaches in non-bound jurisdictions.
- Tax regime proficiency: Understand tax regimes across different jurisdictions and their impact on the estate, including the effects of applicable tax treaties on investments.
- Build valuable connections: Network with like-minded professionals in varied roles and firms from all over the world.
- Industry recognition: Awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, a School of the University of Manchester.
Course fees: £1045 + local taxes
STEP Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Private Wealth Advice
Course dates, fees and enrol now:
If you are not already a member of STEP, you need to join before enrolling onto this course as you will need your STEP membership number to hand when booking. Find out more here. Please allow five working days for your membership application to be approved by STEP. Applicable local taxes and discounts will be added to your basket on checkout for this course.
Our courses can become oversubsribed quickly and places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. We advise that you book early to ensure you receive your requested workshop dates and to check the dates as soon as you receive your booking confirmation email.
Customised Pricing and Group Rates
Tailored pricing plans and group rate cards are available for firms seeking to train multiple team members or larger groups of employees. We are happy to work with you to design a cost-effective solution that aligns with your training goals and budget.
Instalment Plans
You can pay for your course fees in instalments if you choose the interest-free instalment plans available for certain courses. Specifically, you can opt for three equal monthly instalments for Certificate and Advanced Certificate level courses that total over £800 (excluding VAT), or six equal monthly instalments for the Professional Postgraduate Diploma. Payments can be made using a credit or debit card.
Become a member of STEP
To take this course you need to be a member of STEP at Affiliate level or higher.
What will I learn?
- Factors to consider when resolving issues of conflict of foreign laws
- Differences between common law, civil law and Sharia law systems
- How to apply the concepts of habitual residence, domicile and nationality
- The concept of renvoi and its application
- How assets devolve under different systems, considering intestacy and application of relevant conventions and regulations
- How marriage and registered partnerships, adoption and surrogacy can affect succession
- The tax regimes adopted in different jurisdictions
- The effect of any applicable tax treaties on any investments held by the deceased
- How to administer a cross-border estate in practice
Course format
This course is available for study twice a year and takes four months to complete. It is delivered online.
Enrolment onto this course will include access to an online learning platform containing:
- bespoke course reading
- self-assessment tools
- supporting material
The course is assessed by way of a 3,500-4,000 word written assignment, based on a case study published two months before submission.
Once you have successfully completed this course, you will be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates
Digital Certificates from April 2026
From April 6th 2026, printed certificates will no longer be issued. All certificates will be provided digitally via Diplomasafe.
This change supports our commitment to sustainability and modernisation. Digital certificates are:
- Eco-friendly – reducing paper use and our carbon footprint
- Secure – each certificate includes a QR code for instant verification
- Convenient – easy to access, store, and share
Certificates are issued by our credentials partner, Diplomasafe. CLTI will securely share data with Diplomasafe in line with GDPR to enable digital credentialing. Learn more: https://diplomasafe.com
Is this course right for me?
The course is designed for all professionals dealing with wills, succession, and probate in relation to cross-border estates.
Students of this course typically include:
- Wealth Managers
- Estate Planners
- Solicitors/Lawyers
- Accountants
- Tax Advisers
- Notaries
- Advocates
- Family Business Advisers
- Private Bankers
- Family Office Executives
- Financial Planners
- Trust Officers
- Trustees
What learners say:
The course enriches my knowledge and skill for considerations required for cross-border estates.
The course is extremely useful for individuals looking to expand their knowledge of cross-border estates and the complexities surrounding this field. The multi-jurisdictional aspect of this module means it can cater for a wide variety of practitioners in the legal sector.