You may have seen the STEP logo in the media, on our website or on business cards and wondered what it meant. STEP stand for ‘The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners’ which is a global professional body which sets high standards for it’s members, solicitors, financial advisors, accountants and other practitioners. Full members are known as a TEP – a Trust and Estates Practitioner.
It is arguably one of the top professional standards that a solicitor who specialises in tax, trust and estates should aim for to demonstrate their knowledge and skill. In order to become a TEP the practitioner must have relevant experience, with the common method of accreditation being four difficult exams in topics such as tax, trusts, administration of estates and trusts. It usually takes two years of rigorous studying (whilst working!) in order to complete the exams and gain the accreditation.
Areas such as Will writing and planning are unregulated which means anyone can write a Will, regardless of their training and expertise. TEP solicitors must uphold high standards and ethics for their clients and undertake regular training to keep up to date with the law. If you use a TEP solicitor you are in safe hands as they are recognised as being experts in Wills, Trusts, inheritance and succession planning. If you wish to seek advice in these areas please contact one of our STEP accredited solicitors.
Further information on STEP can be found on their website www.step.org which also features a directory of all STEP members.
My name is Samantha Ikin, I am a TEP based in our Urmston office.
