Your will is your last wish detailing how you would like your assets to be distributed and who will look after the people you love. This legal document also specifies who you appoint to be responsible for carrying out these wishes when you are gone.

Why do you need a Will?

Everyone should have a valid will to ensure the management of your estate is handled with no complications and makes for an easy administration process following your death. If you pass without a Will, your family can face great difficulty in trying to gain access to your assets such as bank accounts and property.

A person can write their own Will document, however for it to be considered valid and legal by the Courts, it must satisfy the requirements under the Wills Act 2007 to ensure it was written and executed correctly. This process can be very costly in legal fees and court applications, not to mention time-consuming. The cost of preparing a valid Will with a law firm verse trying to attempt to prepare your own Will document can consequently end up costing your estate a great deal more.

News and Helpful Articles

Got a question and need a bit of background info? Our specialist lawyers have written articles on that! Get started in the right direction here and get in touch with us for more in-depth personal advice.

Search By Tags

COVID-19 Changes to The Way We Sign Documents

COVID-19 contactless services The response to Covid-19 lockdown has introduced new challenges for lawyers to work remotely and provide a...

COVID-19, lockdown and your commercial lease - What's the go?

As of midnight, on Wednesday 25th March, an unprecedented number of NZ businesses were not able to access their business premises due to...

The Trusts Act 2019 - Update

what does it mean for trustees? The key things that professional trustees and settlors should be aware of and consider under the Act...

Do you have a will? What it means to die intestate.

Your will sets out your instructions on how you want your property, known as your estate, shared out when you die and how you want your...

Are you in a relationship? Legal Insights You Need to Know

As you probably know, if you are in a relationship of three or more years duration you will be subject to the equal sharing provisions of...

Commercial Leases – what you need to know…

Are you leasing the premises from which you run your business? The Landlord may require you to enter into a commercial lease recording...

Challenging a Will?

Many people take comfort in having a will that expresses their final wishes, believing that upon their death the instructions they have set

Protecting wealth from your child’s estranged spouse - can it be done?

With the desire to provide for their children long after they are gone, we are often approached by clients wanting to know the “safest...

Is your Family Trust still working for you?

Having a family trust used to be considered the be all and end all for asset protection. For many asset holders, establishing a family...

Second Mortgage and its Popularity Comeback

A second mortgage is a loan which is secured by mortgage to the title of a property behind another mortgage (known as the first...

Options for First Home Buyers

A house purchase is often the biggest asset (and debt) a person will take on during their lifetime. Rising house prices in Auckland mean...

Water Easements

A dry Summer is a timely reminder to consider the importance of water easements, particularly for rural properties. An easement grants...