Jurisdictions
Full details on all of STEP’s jurisdictions are available below,
allowing you to access the most up-to-date information about each
area. Key legal information, new developments and useful resource
information are included.
The summaries were prepared and updated by the STEP Yearbook
editorial board members who devoted their time and energy to share
valuable information and insights.
Anguilla is a British Overses Territory, having a constitutional relationship with Britain that is simular to Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda.
Argentina is a republic established under the 1853 Constitution (amended several times since then but still in force), composed of 23 provinces and the City of Buenos Aires (federal capital)
Australia was first settled by Europeans on 26 January 1788, when the United Kingdom of Great Britain’s government established a penal colony at Sydney under the administration of Captain Arthur Phillip RN, later to become Governor Phillip of the colony of New South Wales.
Austria, the core of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, is using its historical ties and easy access to Central and Eastern Europe to the full.
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is a 100,000-square-mile archipelago of several hundred islands, rocks and cays situated in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 50 miles off the coast of Florida.
Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy headed by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa; the head of government is the Prime Minister, Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman al Khalifa
Barbados is known for its political and economic environment, telecommunications systems, confidentiality laws, regulatory controls, supervision and other attributes.
Belgium is a hereditary constitutional monarchy governed by a multi-party coalition Until 1815, Belgium was part of France and the French Code Napoleon was installed
Belize can trace its history back to 1500bc when the Mayan civilisation flourished.
Bermuda enjoys a reputation as being one of the world’s leading offshore business centres. Bermuda is the United Kingdom’s oldest overseas territory and has been self-governing since 1622
The Federative Republic of Brazil is composed of 26 states, which gained independence from Portugal in 1822 It represents 47 per cent of South American territory and is now the ninth largest economy in the world
Brunei Darussalam (Adobe of Peace) is situated on the north-west coast of Borneo Island.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) lie east of Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea and form part of the archipelago known as the Leeward Islands.
Canada is a federal country made up of ten provinces and three territories, the latter being subject to federal suzerainty but largely under local administration.
The Cayman Islands (the Islands) consist of three islands located 475 miles south of Miami and 180 miles west of Montego Bay, Jamaica
State power within the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is divided among three bodies, namely the Communist Party of China, the State and the People’s Liberation Army
An independent and sovereign Republic of Cyprus (Cyprus) came into being in 1960, following several decades as a British colony.
The United Kingdon (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland contains three major legal jurisdictions: England and Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.
This summary provides a review of French law relevant to trust and estate practitioners and gives an overview of French civil law, with an emphasis on where the concepts of French law differ materially from those of English law.
Germany is a civil law, democratic – parliamentary republic, founded in 1949, and reunited with eastern parts in 1990. Consisting of 16 federal states, Germany is a member of the Unitied Nations, G8 nations and the European Union (EU)
For over 300 years, Gibraltar has been a self-governing British Overseas Territory.
Greece is situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula, bordered by Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north; and by Turkey to the east.
Located in the English Channel, the Channel Islands were caught between the French and English throughout their many wars
On 1 July 1997, the UK government relinquished control over Hong Kong and the territory became a Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
Hungary is a parliamentary republic. Following the collapse of the communist system and restoration of full sovereignty in 1889, the legal and economic system was radically reformed.
India is the world’s largest democracy, operating within the framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic with 28 states and seven Union Territories.
Ireland is located off the north-west coast of Europe. It is approximately 60 miles from the mainland of the UK and, although an island, is very much part of the European Union (EU)
The Isle of Man (population approximately 80,000) is located in the Irish Sea.
The modern state of Israel is a small country at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa that maintains important political and economic ties with North America.
Prior to Italy’s ratification of the Hague Convention on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition, 1 July 1985 (Convention) on 16 October 1989, trusts were generally considered incompatible with the Italian legal system.
In recent years, demand for investment and finance schemes in the commercial trust sector has grown, while the advent of an increasingly aged society has led to an increase in the possible use of family trusts, for the purposes of asset management and inheritance transfers.
When William the Conqueror defeated Harold in 1066, the Channel Islands, including Jersey, were part of his Norman possessions. When he gained the throne of England, Jersey thereby became a possession of the English Crown
In 1719, Emperor Charles VI of the Austro-Hungarian Empire united the Barony of Schellenberg and the County of Vaduz, creating an imperial principality.
Lithuania is a parliamentary republic. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and restoration of independence in 1990, the legal and economic system was radically reformed.
Luxembourg is a parliamentary representative democracy with a constitutional monarchy, governed by a multi-party coalition. Luxembourg covers 2,586 square km in the heart of Western Europe, between France, Belgium and Germany.
Malaysia is an independent federation consisting of two geographical regions separated from each other by the South China Sea.
The Maltese archipelago is composed of five islands. Malta is the largest, followed by Gozo, its sister island.
Mauritius is an island situated in the Indian Ocean approximately 2,400 kilometers from the soth-east coast of Africa in the GMT fours hours time zone and has a population of approximately 1.2 million.
Mexico is currently the 13th largest economy in the world (11th if considered by purchasing power party standards).
The principality of Monaco, a sovereign state bordered by France, is located on the French Riviera close to the Italian border.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands was founded in 1813.
Nevis is a 36-square-mile island, located in the Caribbean, 250 miles south east of Puerto Rico and two miles south of its sister island, St Kitts.
New Zealand comprises of two main islands and a number of smaller islands situated in the South Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,100 kilometers south east of the Australian coastline.
Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom with its own regional Assembly, but is subject to direct rule from the UK Parliament in Westminster in relation to certain reserved matters, including taxation.
The Republic of Panama is located in the narrowest and most central part of the American Continent and forms the isthmus that links North and South America.
Poland is a parliamentary republic. Following the collapse of the communist system and restoration of full sovereignty in 1989, the legal and economic system was radically reformed.
Russia (Rosslyskaya Federatsiya) is the largest country in the world.
The United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland contains three major legal jurisdictions: Scotland, England and Wales and Northern Ireland
Seychelles is a self-governing democratic republic, which gained its independence from the UK in 1976.
Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 when the East India Company established it as a trading post. After a century and a half of British colonial rule, Singapore became an independent nation on 9 August 1965
South Africa is a democratic republic consisting of nine provinces.
Spain is made up of 17 autonomous communities and two North African enclaves, each with its own government with independent legislative and financial powers
The Caribbean island of St Kitts (formally known as Saint Christopher) is part of the federation of Saint Kitts-Nevis (the federation), which has been independent of Britain since 1983
This prized Caribbean port of call was fought over by Britain and France during a 150 year period from 1664, changing possession 14 times.
St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) consist of a group of islands approximately 100 miles due west of Barbados.
In the 13th century, the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Underwalden concluded the Federal Charter of 1291 and founded the first Swiss Confederation.
Trinidad and Tobago lies to the extreme south of the Caribbean and it is approximately seven miles from the mainland of Venezuela at its nearest point to the South American continent.
The Turks and Caicos Islands (the Islands) are situated some 600 miles to the south-east of Florida On 14 August 2009 the UK government partially suspended parts of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain).
The United Kingdom (UK) of Great Britain and Northern Ireland incorporates three legal jurisdictions: England and Wales (the latter has not had a distinct legal system since the Middle Ages), Northern Ireland and Scotland.
The United States (US) is a union of 50 sovereign states plus the District of Columbia and 15 dependencies.
The Oriental Republic of Uruguay, which gained independence from Spain in 1825, is located on the Atlantic coast of southern South America, between Argentina and Brazil
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