As a solicitor specialising in Private Wealth (that’s tax, trusts, estates, wills and powers of attorney), I already also hold the further qualification of being a TEP, which means I’m a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a world wide body for ensuring expertise amongst professionals who advise on such matters.
I am pleased to report that I have recently obtained a Distinction in their Advanced Certificate of Cross Border Estates. Very few people hold this qualification, so I’m pleased that I’ve achieved it. Over half of the solicitors/accountants and others who already work in this field and take the exam do fail – and most won’t even attempt it, because of its reputation for extremely high standards.
So – yes, there was (almost) blood, sweat and tears, but it has enhanced my knowledge and I’m glad I did it. Many clients now have foreign aspects to their lives, whether it’s their parents’ country of origin or owning an asset abroad, and they do not realise the consequences it can have, from taxation to invalidity of part of their Wills. They need a solicitor who is aware of the implications!
If you need any further information or have any questions, please get in touch with me at CarolynBagley@hewitsons.com or visit the website at www.hewitsons.com
