In today’s challenging economic climate, family trusts remain a valuable tool for protecting assets and managing risk. While tax benefits are now limited, their key advantages include separating ownership from personal liabilities, safeguarding assets from creditors, and supporting relationship and intergenerational planning. However, trusts must be properly structured and actively managed to remain effective, particularly under increasing legal scrutiny.

If you work in the commercial property sector - involving retail shops, office buildings, industrial facilities, or hospitality venues - you’ll want to know about the latest updates to the ADLS Deed of Lease ('DOL'). Released on 27 November 2024, the Seventh Edition introduces significant changes to reflect the evolving commercial landscape of the past decade.

With recent changes in tax regulations, increased compliance obligations, and rising administrative costs, what used to be relatively simple is suddenly complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Is it time to simplify your life and wind the damn thing up?

The recent fall in property values across New Zealand has led to numerous purchasers being unable to obtain finance and complete settlement. This leaves both vendor and purchaser in an awful position, with lawyers scrambling to minimise the losses suffered on each side.

The Trusts Act 2019 ("the Act") outlines the obligations of trustees in managing family trusts. Information disclosure requirements to beneficiaries are significantly more demanding than previously applied.