Blog
When There Is No Will - Considerations before applying for Letters of Administration
If your spouse has died without a valid Will, you cannot simply “carry on” dealing with their assets.
Why Memoranda of Wishes Matter for Trustee Decision-Making
When a family trust is established, the trust deed records the legal structure: who the beneficiaries are, what powers the trustees hold, and the framework within which those powers must…
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Enduring Powers of Attorney: Essential, but Not Enough on Their Own
An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) allows another person to manage your personal and property affairs if you lose mental capacity.
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About to Hit Three Years Together? Is Your Home, Income, and Pre-Relationship Assets (Family Trust Assets) Still Legally Yours?
If you’re living with a partner and getting close to the three-year mark, it’s worth understanding how the Property (Relationships) Act might treat the life - and particularly the assets - you’ve built together (or brought to the relationship).
Retirement Village Law Reform: Five Changes Being Discussed
In early December last year, the NZ Government announced proposed changes to the Retirement Villages Act following years of feedback from residents, families, advocates, and advisers.
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Retirement Village ORAs: The Real Risk Often Appears at Exit
Buying into a retirement village? Exit repayments under ORAs can be delayed. Understand the risks, proposed law changes, and what to consider before signing.
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Why a final failure clause in your Will matters more than you might think
When most people make a Will, they picture a fairly straightforward sequence. One of us will go first. Everything passes to the other.
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Understanding the Roles in a Family Trust
(and why getting them wrong causes problems later) Family trusts are often described as if they’re simple containers that hold assets.
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Moving into a Retirement Village When You Have a Family Trust
If you’re moving into a retirement village and you have a family trust, don’t assume everything will slot neatly into place. Villages take very different approaches to trust-owned assets, and your ORA is often the moment when long-ignored trust issues surface. A quick review can confirm whether the trust still protects you, needs updating, or is simply adding complexity you no longer need. If your trust hasn’t been reviewed in five years, now is the time to check it’s working for this next stage of life.
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Planning for Memory Care & Residential Care Subsidies
A practical guide for families facing decisions for loved ones suffering from dementia and in need of memory care. Includes Enduring Powers of Attorney, trusts, Advance Care Plans, and Residential Care Subsidy planning.
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