Dying without a will?
Most people know that it’s important to have a Will and to keep it up to date.
Common Intention Constructive Trusts
The widely publicised separation and property dispute of Sally Ridge and Adam Parore saw the High Court consider the concept of a common intention constructive trust.
Importance of an 'Independent' Trustee
The law requires all trustees to act independently and impartially. The term ‘independent trustee’ is used to describe a trustee who does not benefit from the assets of the trust.
All Trustees Must Sign when Dealing with Trust Assets
“When establishing a family trust that usually owns your family home and some investments, the usual ‘mum and dad’ trust has you and your partner as trustees, together with an...
Gift Duty Abolition
The government has announced it will abolish gift duty from 1 October 2011 citing the cost of gift duty compliance (estimated to be $70 million pa) significantly outweighs government revenue...
Risks for Trustees
The Pike River Mine tragedy has changed the way in which health and safety is thought about.
When a Trustee Loses Capacity
With New Zealand’s ageing population, more and more people are losing mental capacity as they grow older.
Looking into the Election Crystal Ball
With an election coming up this year we thought it would be interesting to turn our minds to what impact this election, or the next, may have on how you...
Signing on Behalf of Trustees
Trustees sometimes need to sign documents in a hurry. An example is bank mortgage documents which may need to be signed so that the trust can borrow to cover expenditure.
Family Trusts and the Family Protection Act 1955
Under the Family Protection Act 1955 (FPA), parents have a moral duty to provide in their Wills for their children’s maintenance and support.