Course details
This course provides practitioners with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to deliver holistic advice in Scotland relating to wills and executries.
- Gain in-depth expertise: Improve your technical knowledge of the issues arising in relation to the administration of wills and executries and the laws and procedures involved.
- Practical focus: Practical advice and guidance written by practitioners, for practitioners.
- Build valuable connections: Network with like-minded professionals in varied roles and firms.
- Industry recognition: A recognised ‘gold-standard’ professional qualification for those working in the industry, enhancing your professional standing, and is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, a School of the University of Manchester.
Course fees: £1000 + local taxes
STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (Scotland)
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.
STEP Diploma: Trusts and Estates in Scotland recommended route
STEP Advanced Certificate in Trusts: Law and Practice (Scotland)
STEP Advanced Certificate in Taxation of Trusts and Estates (Scotland)
STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust and Executry Accounting (Scotland)
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?
- The requirements for making a valid will in Scotland
- The statutory rules that apply to the interpretation and implementation of wills prepared in Scotland
- The standard clauses to be included in a well drafted will
- How to draft an appropriate will
- The statutory provisions governing powers of attorney and guardianship
- The procedure from death to close of an executry
- The requirements of HMRC in relation to inheritance tax
- The statutory framework that governs intestate estates in Scotland and how to administer same
- The purpose, legal framework and considerations for deeds of variation
- The purpose, typical structure and entitlement to executry accounts
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 fee includes attendance at two online workshops led by a subject matter expert.
The course is assessed by way of a five-hour open-book examination.
Once you have successfully completed this course, you will be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Wills and Executries: Law and Practice (Scotland).
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?
This course is suitable for:
- legal and trust professionals
- support staff and paralegals
- accountants and banking professionals
- tax advisers
- independent financial advisers
- executorship administrators
What learners say:
I really enjoyed the online workshops. They were a good mix of practical activities, discussions and lecture's. I also felt being able to sit the exam on a laptop at home was good. It was closer to a real life experience.
