We are leaders in trust and estate law.

Thank you for your interest in nomination and election as an ACTEC International Fellow! This webpage can guide you as you prepare for your first steps on the journey. The destination is worth every step!

If elected, you will be joining the thought leaders of the International trust and estate profession. ACTEC International Fellows are at the forefront of the profession, and ACTEC’s three national meetings (open to ACTEC Fellows only) are unmatched opportunities to network and hear cutting-edge insights into trust and estate research and law.

Listen to ACTEC Fellows express what they value about being a Fellow of the College and how it has impacted their careers.

International Fellow Membership

Find a Nominator

The first step is to identify and work with an ACTEC Fellow nominator. Your nominator can help you assess your professional contributions. Your nominator may help you find opportunities to add to your speaking, writing, leadership, or other professional contributions to help you prepare for nomination. Your nominator may introduce you to other ACTEC Fellows. Preparing for nomination prior to reaching the ten-year mark can be helpful.

Nomination Form for International Fellow

ACTEC makes the Nomination Form for International Fellow available to those who are considering pursuing nomination and election to the College. Use this form as your guide! You may use this form to keep track of your professional affiliations (start and end dates are critical for tracking your ten years) and your professional contributions. Make sure you track the dates of things such as joining professional associations and the years you serve as committee chairs in state, national, and international bar associations.

The International Nomination Form for Fellow must be signed and submitted by an ACTEC Fellow in good standing who will serve as your nominator. But you can begin tracking your professional contributions to assist your nominator in submitting your nomination materials.

Prerequisites for Nomination and Election

To be elected into the College, you must:

1. Have been predominantly in the active practice of trust and estate law for at least 10 years;
2. Have been regularly involved in cross-border T&E work between the United States and another country that requires coordination and cooperation with lawyers of both countries;
3. Have the level of practice and follow the ethical rules in the jurisdiction in which one practices, which must be comparable to those found in the United States;
4. Be licensed in one’s jurisdiction after meeting licensing requirements comparable to the licensing qualifications required to be a Fellow;
5. Have a well-deserved outstanding reputation for cross-border work both in the country in which one practices and among the members of the College;
6. Have demonstrated exceptional skill in cross-border T&E law;
7. Have made substantial contributions to the cross-border T&E field that are highly rated among cross-border lawyers and are comparable to the highly respected contributions made by a Fellow through by lecturing, writing, teaching, or being involved in bar activities or in the enactment of significant T & E legislation in the country in one practices;
8. Be a lawyer to whom members of the College who have personal knowledge would readily refer a matter within one’s field of cross-border practice expertise without reservation.

Polling and Initial Review

Once nominated, your Nomination Form for International Fellow will be reviewed by Amy Michaud, Senior Membership Director for ACTEC. The Chair of the International Membership Committee will also review it. It is not unusual to have revisions suggested. Once finalized, your nomination will be sent out for polling among the International Fellows of the College, current members of the International Estate Planning Committee (“IEPC”), and those who have served on the IEPC within the last two years. If the results of this initial poll are positive, a second plenary poll is conducted of all other voting Fellows of the College. Polling is important because it allows Fellows to comment on whether the nominee has a well-deserved, outstanding reputation among International Fellows and among all Fellows of the College. Polls are open for 30 days.

Post Polling

Once the polls close, Amy Michaud prepares a report on the results of the polls, which goes to the Chair of the International Membership Committee, who convenes their Committee. The International Membership Committee reviews the Nomination Form for International Fellow and the poll reports, deliberates, and takes a formal vote.

The ACTEC Membership Selection Committee and Board of Regents Review

The ACTEC Membership Selection Committee meets twice a year, in March and October, to review nominations. All of the materials for each nominee (the Nomination Form for International Fellow, poll reports, and report from the Chair of the International Membership Committee of the deliberations and vote of their Committee) are reviewed carefully for each nominee. A recommendation is made to the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents, at its meeting in March and October, determines if an invitation to become an International Fellow will be issued.

Depending on when you begin the process, it usually takes between six and nine months. There is no guarantee of election. If an invitation to become an International Fellow is not issued, a nominee is usually invited to return to the Membership Selection Committee again after completing additional professional contributions.

Countries with International Fellows

ACTEC International Fellows come from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

If you believe you are qualified and want to find out more about ACTEC, contact an ACTEC Fellow or the membership director at the national office, Amy.Michaud@actec.org.