Insights & Articles

Wills & Enduring Powers of Attorney

How may relationship property be divided when a spouse or partner dies?

How may relationship property be divided when a spouse or partner dies?

Written by:
Peter Fuscic
Brydie Sherlaw-McGowan
The death of a spouse or partner is an emotional and challenging time for the one left behind. Often left with the overwhelming task of handling the Deceased's estate, the surviving spouse or partner will be unaware of their entitlement under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (the "PRA"). Many will opt to taking under the Will, not knowing they also have the alternative option of applying under the PRA for a division of relationship property.
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Testamentary Capacity

Testamentary Capacity

Written by:
Peter Fuscic
Niamh Forgie
When constructing a Will a will-maker has the freedom to decide how they wish to distribute their property upon their death, this is known as testamentary freedom. However, this freedom is not absolute. In certain circumstances, such as when a will-maker is said to have lacked capacity when they last made or altered their Will, a Will can be challenged and possibly be declared as invalid.
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Enduring Power of Attorney

Enduring Power of Attorney

No matter your age, it is essential that all adults have in place lawful and enforceable Enduring Powers of Attorney ("EPA"). Sudden accidents or illnesses affecting your metal capacity can happen unexpectedly, and if the time comes that you require an EPA and you have not already set one up, it will be too late.
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Getting on top of your legal affairs – what you could do during the lockdown period

Getting on top of your legal affairs – what you could do during the lockdown period

Written by:
During this unprecedented and unsettling time, there is an opportunity here to take advantage of the phone calls and emails slowing down (for some) and use your time to address those things you have been putting off – a bit like that painting job most people have been meaning to get to.
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Wills for the Lockdown

Wills for the Lockdown

Written by:
Peter Fuscic
Can a Will be made from within the Covid-19 virus enforced bubble of self-isolation and social distancing? Extreme events call for extreme challenges and measures no more so than for making a Will right now when the testator is in isolation and no independent witnesses are in the room. Clearly an issue particularly for someone elderly or ill and delay is a concern.
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Is Self-Isolation Pushing you Together or Pulling you Apart?

Is Self-Isolation Pushing you Together or Pulling you Apart?

Written by:
Alissa Bell
Feeling stressed or anxious about how Covid-19 (coronavirus) and New Zealand entering alert level 4 with nationwide lockdowns will affect you and your family members? Times of crisis can result in a push-and-pull effect with our personal relationships. They bring people together – only those in your household! - but difficult times can also lead to difficulties arising in our relationships with our, quite literally, nearest and dearest.
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Wills

Wills

Written by:
Alissa Bell
Planning Ahead: Need to make a Will even if you don't think you do?" But I don't have any assets yet" is a common response when making a Will is suggested to twenty-somethings. There is a misconception, among young people in particular, that in order to make a Will, you should have already built up a sizeable asset base. While you may not own a home or have a large un-cracked nest egg, you will almost certainly have a number of assets to protect, including:
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How Much is a Promise Worth? What You Need to Know About the Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act 1949

How Much is a Promise Worth? What You Need to Know About the Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act 1949

Written by:
Peter Fuscic
The situation seems simple. A promise is made (by the "promisor") to someone (the "promisee"), that they will be rewarded in the promisor's Will for work or services carried out. Time passes, and the (now deceased) promisor has failed to follow through on their promise, leaving no such reward (or less than what was promised) in their Will. The promisee can then claim against the deceased's estate for the remuneration that was promised to them. Such claim is made under the Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act 1949.
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When Charity Does Not Begin at Home and Testamentary Freedom Triumphs

When Charity Does Not Begin at Home and Testamentary Freedom Triumphs

Written by:
Peter Fuscic
The truism that charity begins at home might have been given a serious knock back going by the recent UK Supreme Court decision concerning an adult daughter's claim against her mother's estate in IIott v Mitson [2017] UKSC 17.
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Will That Do? - Validation of Non-Compliant Wills

Will That Do? - Validation of Non-Compliant Wills

Written by:
Peter Fuscic
Before a deceased's last will can have the legal effect of distributing property to his or her heirs accordingly to its terms, it must be admitted to probate, that is accepted by the High Court as being valid.
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