A personal law solicitor from LCF Law’s Ilkley office has become one of only a few lawyers in the region to complete a prestigious qualification that enables her to advise clients who have assets in different countries, including holiday homes, on their succession plans and wills.
Ann Christian, who is a partner at LCF Law, has successfully passed the STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates.
The globally recognised qualification gives legal professionals an in-depth knowledge of all types of international estate issues including inheritance, succession planning and property transfer rules across borders.
In addition to examining the differences between common law, civil law and Sharia law, as well as those that are hybrid, the qualification also covers a wide range of areas including the Private International Law of Succession, EU Succession Regulation, renvoi, property, tax considerations and the exchange of information.
Ann said:
“As a firm we’re increasingly working with clients who have international assets, investments, businesses and holiday homes abroad, and navigating other countries’ laws surrounding succession rights, joint assets, matrimonial property, wills and intestacy can be a hugely complex area.
“Having this qualification means we can deal more effectively with estate administration across multiple jurisdictions, because it significantly enhances our capability in an international arena, and across different legal systems. It’s a very in-depth course that took six months to complete, but there’s no doubt it will benefit both new and existing clients.”
Ann qualified as a solicitor in 2001 and has specialised in private client work ever since, helping people to plan for the future and protect their assets; and particularly with a view to tax and care home fee planning, as a member of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers. She also deals with estate administration, incapacity issues, will writing and advises on trusts.
Ann becomes LCF Law’s second solicitor to complete the STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates after fellow partner, Amjed Zaman, who is based in the firm’s Bradford office, passed it in 2020.
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