The UK government published guidance relating to the ‘View an LPA’ service on 10 May 2024. This is a secure online service that allows companies and organisations to check the information contained within lasting powers of attorney (LPA) in England and Wales. Purpose of View an LPA An LPA will usually be verified by someone… Read More New guidance for ‘View an LPA’ service in England and Wales
We exist in a global, multicultural world and our membership reflects that. STEP has a committee of Council members and staff who are dedicated to driving forward equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) improvements within the organisation. We want all our people – members, volunteers and staff – to grow and thrive through their relationship with… Read More Equity, diversity and inclusion across STEP’s branches and committees
STEP Southern Central and the Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) held a collaboration event at Winchester Cathedral, England, on 24 April 2024. The event, Collaboration in philanthropy – working together in the legacy sector, aimed to: The speakers were: Gill Steel TEP; Matthew Lagden, CEO of the ILM; Thomas Dumont KC, Radcliffe Chambers and Zoë… Read More Collaboration in philanthropy – working together in the legacy sector
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) has recently published three new Common Reporting Standards (CRS) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on its website. The new FAQs were provided by the UK’s HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The FAQs relate to the following subjects: Can Reporting Financial Institutions solely rely on the fact that an… Read More OECD adds new questions to CRS FAQs
On Thursday 11 April 2024, Anti-Money Laundering Europe (AME) hosted a symposium at the European Parliament in Brussels about the European Union’s (EU) new Anti-Money Laundering package. Under this package, the EU will establish a new Anti-Money Laundering Authority that will have supervisory powers over national financial institutions. The package aims to strengthen cooperation on… Read More Anti-Money Laundering Europe symposium
Mark Walley, CEO of STEP, gave evidence at the House of Common’s Justice Committee’s evidence session on the performance of the probate service on 30 April. The committee of MPs was established as a follow up to the Justice Committee’s written inquiry into the probate service and its poor performance in November 2023. The significant… Read More Justice Committee’s Evidence Session into the Probate Service
There have been two opportunities this month for our industry to come together and address emerging challenges of evolving financial crime. The Organisation of Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) held its Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum in Paris on the 25th anniversary of the signing of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. This was followed by the… Read More Update on recent FATF and OECD forums to tackle financial crime
Almost 17 years ago, a woman told me that I could be anything I wanted to be and could achieve anything. I was taken aback and surprised. No-one had ever said that to me before. No-one had backed me. In fact, my life to that point had been a constant fight to prove people wrong.… Read More International Women’s Day: Inspire inclusion
The UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has proposed reforms that would see original paper wills dating back to 1858 converted into digital form, with the original then destroyed. The only wills that would be kept in paper form, if this reform goes ahead, would be those of famous people. Historians and others have criticised the… Read More Reforms to storage of wills in the UK: STEP’s view on the challenges and solutions
STEP has responded to a UK government consultation that seeks views on improving transparency of land ownership involving trusts and options to widen access to trust information held on the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE). Transparency and privacy The extent to which information about trusts and companies should be publicly available has been much discussed… Read More STEP responds to UK consultation about transparency of land ownership involving trusts
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