Trusts

Protecting your wealth now and in the future.

Trusts remain a powerful way to protect your assets, provide for loved ones, and plan for the future, but recent changes to trust law mean it’s more important than ever to understand your obligations.

The Trusts Act 2019, which came into effect on 30 January 2021, was the first major reform of trust law in over 70 years. It applies to all existing and new trusts, and places greater responsibilities on trustees, including keeping clear records and acting in accordance with a wider set of duties.

If you’re a trustee, a beneficiary, or thinking about setting up a trust, McVeagh Fleming can help you make confident, informed decisions. We work with individuals, families, and businesses to set up, manage, and administer a range of trusts, tailored to your goals.

Why set up a trust?

  • Protect assets for your family’s long-term benefit
  • Transfer wealth to the next generation
  • Retain key assets (like a family business) if someone becomes ill or can’t work
  • Protect against relationship property claims or estate challenges
  • Manage assets for someone who can no longer do so themselves
  • Help reduce tax liabilities
  • Plan ahead through asset transfers before death

Our trust services include:

  • Family trust formation and administration
  • Business and commercial trusts
  • Charitable and special purpose trusts
  • Gifting programmes
  • Asset and estate planning
  • Trust reviews and compliance under the new Act
  • Wills and retirement planning

If you're unsure whether your trust meets current legal requirements — or if a trust is right for your situation — talk to our team for straightforward advice and practical support.

It all starts with a conversation

Need help? Click the button below to request contact with someone from our team.

Our latest insights

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Why wouldn’t you wind up your Trust right now? Talk to an Auckland Family Trust Lawyer about winding up your Family Trust.
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Winding up your Family Trust

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?
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Mediating Trust Disputes. Mediation is an alternative solution for settling trust disputes and may be a more advantageous option for parties.
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Mediating Trust Disputes

Countless families across New Zealand place their most valuable assets, such as their property, into a discretionary family trust. However, when a couple separate and each party is a trustee to the same family trust, conflict and disagreement will often arise as to the management and enjoyment of trust assets. Disagreements on internal trust matters have the possibility of turning into time-consuming, expensive and public proceedings in court. Mediation is an alternative solution for settling trust disputes and may be a more advantageous option for parties.
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Changes to The Trusts Act put obligations on Trustees. If this is you, make sure you are compliant. Click here to talk to Albany, Auckland Family Trust Lawyer.
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Disclosure Obligations of Trustees to Beneficiaries Under the Trusts Act 2019

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.
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