In 2019 the Government instructed the Law Commission to review inheritance law in New Zealand which is currently governed by a combination of acts including the Family Protection Act of 1955, the Property (Relationships) Act of 1976 and the Administration Act of 1969. The thinking behind the review is to simplify the law into…
Under the law, there is a “state of limbo” when married couples separate but are not yet divorced. If you have decided to separate, you should consider the following: You cannot get a divorce (called a dissolution of marriage in the Family Court) until you have been separated for at least two years. If you…
If you pass away and do not have a Will in place, this is called dying ‘intestate’. In this situation, the Administration Act 1969 comes into play and dictates how the next steps are undertaken. Your next of kin will need to apply to the court using a document called ‘Letters of Administration’ and ask…
What happens if you do not have Enduring Powers of Attorney? We all know (or should know) that a valid Will is important to have. A Will comes into effect on your death, appoints who will administer your estate, deals with your assets and liabilities and if valid, prevents an intestacy. Equally important and while…
Why do we need a will? In basic terms, to document who you wish to provide for upon your death and how you’d like your assets to be distributed. Wills also allow you to specify someone you would like to look after your children or to leave special gifts and meaningful things to people or…