Section 9A of the Property (Property Relationships) Act 1976 (“the Act”) deals with the issue of what happens when separate property becomes relationship property. 

Property owned before the marriage or de facto relationship except the family home or family chattels is considered separate property e.g. a rental property. 

I was asked by the Waikato Times, could GPS information be used to instantly dismiss an employee for speeding in a work vehicle? In summary, the answer is yes, GPS information could be used for an employment disciplinary process.

In 2015 the High Court of New Zealand held two executors of a will personally liable for $335,000 even though the executors had distributed the deceased’s property in accordance with her will.

What happens if the will is invalid? 
In 2007 the Wills Act was reformed to allow the High Court to declare a will valid under section 14 when the document appears to be a will but does not comply with section 11 of the Wills Act.

If you have been named the trustee of a will or a trust, you have been entrusted to manage property on behalf of another.  This post focuses on the duties of trustees of trusts but the same principles can be applied to trustees of wills.

As the property transferred into the trust now belongs to the trust and no longer belongs to individuals, a family trust is an effective way of protecting your assets for family members such as yourself, your spouse and your children. 

Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, did you know that you can use your Kiwisaver funds to pay the deposit to the vendor when you purchase a property? 

The famous actor from the “Fast & Furious” movies, Paul Walker, is a good reminder to us of how important it is to keep updating our wills regularly.

 If you have been named as the executor of a will you are responsible for ensuring the deceased’s wishes stated in their will are carried out. 

The cost of workplace bullying is devastating to both the employer and the employee

We consider that a will is one of the most important documents that you will sign in your life time.

Every employee must have a written employment agreement and the employer must keep a copy of each employee’s agreement.  We advise making sure the agreement is signed prior to the commencement date of employment. 

Gene Wilder died of Alzheimer’s disease. Although Wilder’s estate is reportedly to have a net worth of around $20 million, there have been no hints of family disputes over it. 

There is a requirement under the Employment Relations Act 2000 (ERA) for both the employer and employee to act in “good faith” in their relationship toward one another.