Wills, Trusts and Estates

Looking after the people and things you care about

Few things matter more than knowing the people you love will be looked after, and that what you've built will end up where you want it to. The legal side of all this — wills, powers of attorney, trusts, estates — can feel complicated, but it doesn't have to be. We'll walk you through what you actually need (and what you don't), in plain English, and make sure your affairs are set up the way you want them.

We help clients at every stage of life — from first-time wills in your twenties, through buying a home or starting a family, to reviewing trusts and updating EPAs in retirement.

Wills

A will is the most basic step in looking after your family — and the most commonly forgotten one. If you don't have a will, the law decides who inherits what, which often isn't what you'd have chosen.

We help you:

Prepare a will that's clear, current, and reflects what you actually want
Update an existing will when life changes — marriage, children, separation, a new property, a new business
Plan for the practical realities — who'll be your executor, what about your KiwiSaver, what happens with digital assets
Make sure your will works alongside a family trust if you have one

For most clients, a simple will is straightforward and affordable. We'll quote you upfront before we start.

Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPAs)

An EPA is a document that lets someone you trust make decisions for you if you can't make them yourself — through illness, accident, or age. There are two kinds, and most people set up both:

EPA for Property — covers your money, property, and financial decisions
EPA for Personal Care and Welfare — covers decisions about your health and where you live

Setting these up while you're well is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for your family. Without them, your loved ones may have to apply to the Family Court if you lose capacity — a slow, expensive, and stressful process.

Family trusts

Family trusts have changed significantly under the Trusts Act 2019 — and many trusts set up in the 1990s and 2000s may no longer be doing what they were intended to do.

We can help you:

Set up a new family trust — and tell you honestly whether you actually need one (sometimes the answer is no)
Review an existing trust to make sure it still meets your goals under the new Act
Prepare a memorandum of wishes — guidance for your trustees on how you'd like things handled
Asset protection strategies that fit your situation
Trustee duties and obligations — what's actually expected of you under the new Act
Family arrangements — loans between family members, property-sharing agreements between siblings or parents and children, and the documents to support them

When was your trust last reviewed?

If your family trust was set up before 2021 and you haven't had it reviewed since, it's worth a conversation. The Trusts Act 2019 changed trustees' obligations significantly, and many older trusts need adjustments — sometimes minor, sometimes more substantial — to keep doing their job.

When a loved one has died

Losing someone is hard, and the legal paperwork that follows can feel overwhelming on top of everything else.

We handle estate administration with care and clarity. We'll explain what needs to happen and in what order, and we'll do as much of the heavy lifting as we can on your behalf.

We help with:

Applications for probate — the court's confirmation that a will is valid and the executor can act
Applications for Letters of Administration — when there's no will, or no executor available
Identifying and valuing estate assets
Paying debts and dealing with creditors
Distributing the estate to beneficiaries
Resealing of probate for assets held overseas
Navigating complications — missing wills, contested estates, blended families, beneficiaries overseas

Why our clients trust us with their wills, trusts, and estates

Three generations of experience. We've been advising East Auckland families on succession and estate matters across three generations.
A team built for this work. Our lawyers and legal executives bring decades of combined experience to wills, trusts, and estates.
Plain English, always. We don't bury the answers in legalese — you'll leave each meeting knowing what you've decided and why.
Upfront on fees. Simple wills and EPAs are straightforward and affordable. We'll quote in advance.