A legacy or a gift in a will can significantly change your life, personally and financially. When a relative or friend does this, they want to show you kindness, but they usually also want the gift to benefit you personally, not other people like creditors, the Official Assignee or a de facto partner.
Is your agreement to lease working for your business?
People sometimes hurry into an agreement to lease commercial property. Time is money and delays to setting up a business can mean delays to generating income.
Shareholder Relationships: What happens if you need to break up?
Shareholders’ agreements are often compared to a marriage. In many ways this comparison is true, so what happens if you need to break up? In business, breakups happen for many reasons. Here are some pointers about how to avoid a costly mess.
The good, the bad and the ugly changes to business law
There are three changes to business law on the horizon. If you’re a small to medium business owner, we recommend you read this article so you’re armed with the right knowledge and not looking down the barrel of a legal shoot-out.
More on Kiwisaver, multi offers and insulation
What many people don’t know is that you can still use your KiwiSaver funds to purchase a home owned by a trust, or partly owned by a trust.
Make money while you’re on holiday
An easy way to make a bit of money while you’re on holiday is to rent out your property as an Airbnb. However, it isn’t as simple as getting a booking and flying away. As an Airbnb host, you’ll need to consider income tax, GST and an ownership structure. Here’s what you need to know to get set up before you set off.
It’s your inheritance. Here’s how to keep it
A legacy or a gift in a will can significantly change your life, personally and financially. When a relative or friend does this, they want to show you kindness, but they usually also want the gift to benefit you personally, not other people like creditors, the Official Assignee or a de facto partner.
The Trusts Bill: What will it mean for you?
Last December, the draft Trusts Bill was released for public consultation. Resulting from recommendations in a Law Commission report, the new Trusts Act will replace the Trustee Act 1956 if passed and become the primary source of trust law in New Zealand. Here is an outline of the key proposals and changes
Legal Boundaries: Why titles matter
You have just moved into your new home and your neighbour knocks on your door. They say that your garage is two metres into their boundary.
Company or Trust
The two most common farm-owning entities are either a company or a trust. Often, a farming operation is carried out with a mix of trust ownership (typically owning the land) and a company (owning the rest). Both structures have their pros and cons; in this article we compare these two ownership models.
Selling your property? Avoid payment of commission to more than one agent
It’s surprising that when selling property, the seller often pays little attention to the terms of the real estate agent’s listing agreement – particularly when there may a substantial sum of commission involved.