Importance of a Pre-Settlement Inspection
The excited purchasers have found the property and the deed is done – the agreement is signed. They know they are signing up for the property as it is on that date. Not everything is able to be seen or…
Mortgage free holiday overview
During these unprecedented times with COVID-19, the term mortgage free holiday has been heard more now than ever. As many New Zealanders’ incomes have been negatively affected, which can make it difficult to meet mortgage payments (amongst other payments), a…
The new Trust Act 2019
Trusts are widely used in New Zealand, with the main focus in recent years being on family trusts. These have been utilized in relation to relationship property, succession planning, risk control, and as a vehicle for enabling blended family outcomes;…
The role of the executor
Often when you are asked to be the executor of a will, you accept the role without truly knowing its parameters. While not wishing to deter anyone from accepting the responsibility to carry out this very important role, you must…
Bringing the Adoption Act into modern times
The New Zealand Adoption Act 1955 (“the Act”) has been widely viewed as being in need of an overhaul to bring it up to date with the modern times. In 2016 the Human Rights Review Tribunal ruled that sections of…
Purchasing a property at auction – what you need to know
When purchasing a property, there are generally two ways in which you can achieve this. The first, the traditional offer method, is by offer and acceptance of a signed Agreement for Sale and Purchase between the vendor (seller) and purchaser…
Types of trusts and their benefits
There are many types of trusts that can be tailored to achieve a specific purpose. The general purpose of a trust is to protect your assets and provide for desired succession planning for future generations. A trust is created by…
Importance of insurance in a natural disaster
In light of recent events like the Christchurch earthquakes, and the Australian bushfires and flooding, it really does hammer home the importance of having insurance in place for your residential and commercial properties. As lawyers, we see the repercussions for…
Statutory entitlement for sick leave
We all get sick from time to time, and New Zealand law in the form of the Holidays Act 2003 recognises that an employee will be paid for some of those times, and rightly so. As a general rule, the…
What is a Calderbank offer, and when it should be used?
A Calderbank offer, otherwise known as a “Without Prejudice Save as to Costs” offer, is a tactic that can be used to settle a dispute for a lower amount and avoid going to a court trial. This tactic is named…