After a period of prohibitively high property prices,
first home buyers are now taking advantage
of the slowing property market and taking the
leap to property ownership. Some are looking at
alternative ways to secure their first home, such as
the ‘bank of mum and dad’. Many first-time buyers
are given assistance from family to purchase a
first home. This can be done in several ways:

As I'm sure you are all aware, the government announced a new alert system regarding the COVID-19 crisis. Today the Prime Minister announced that the country is at Level 3 and moving to Level 4 by Thursday. This means that all non-essential businesses are to close and that people must stay home. Dawsons staff will be working from home from today, 24 March 2020.

At Dawsons, the wellbeing of our clients, team members and the wider community is our top priority. Due to the COVID-19 health crisis we have implemented some health and safety measures and made some changes to the way we look after our clients.

We understand that many of our clients will be feeling anxious about the current COVID-19 virus threat and will be wanting to make sure that wills and Enduring Powers of Attorney are in place and up to date. We are here to assist you with any concerns you have about your business or personal affairs.

At Dawsons we offer our clients access to legal services in a new modern way through our Online Services. Here, clients can purchase from a range of online legal solutions. Whether you are looking to create your own Will or Relationship Property Agreement, our Online Services enable you create the legal documents you require, at a time and place convenient for you.

At Dawsons we’ve made it simple and cost-effective for you to create your own Relationship Property Agreement through our online services. For a limited time you can prepare your own agreement through our website for only $380 incl. GST. Legal advice in respect of the agreement will be additional.

A Memorandum of Wishes is an additional document the settlor of a trust can create to indicate to the trustees their intentions of how they want the Trust to be managed. This Memorandum is read alongside the Trust Deed and enables a settlor to effectively give directions as to how the Trust should be administered, particularly after death

Family trusts have long been popular among kiwis, with an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 in New Zealand today. A family trust is a legal way of protecting property and managing your assets, for you or your family members for the future.

Whether you are thinking of buying or selling a business, we understand these transactions can be complex. We work closely with our clients to achieve the best possible outcomes, and guide them through the process. Read on below to find out our top tips for preparing to sell, or buy a business.

Life can be uncertain, and there may come a time whether through illness or injury that you are unable to make decisions yourself. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead.

An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) enables you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf, particularly if you are unable to do so yourself. These legal documents can protect your best interests and ensure you and your loved ones are being looked after.

About 1,500 people die in New Zealand every year without a will - this is called dying “intestate”. What happens to your property if you haven’t left directions for how to distribute your assets?