News and views

A new financing option could make the transition to retirement living easier. The recently introduced 'Village Access Loan' by one of the banks allows homeowners to borrow up to 50% of their retirement village entry cost, using their existing home as security. This three-year bridging finance gives retirees more flexibility in timing their property sale and securing their preferred retirement village. Find out how this differs from reverse equity loans and what it means for you.

In part one of our series on Trusts, we explore the unique challenges faced by blended families. Picture your family trust as a citadel protecting your hard-won assets - but what happens when new family members enter the picture? Through the story of David and Jane's blended family, we illustrate how seemingly innocent actions can inadvertently create legal claims on trust assets.

We're delighted to welcome two new faces to our Aspiring Law team. Rosa Garcia Knight and Elise Streat bring fresh energy and expertise to our firm and embody our commitment to providing clear, client-focused legal services within our community.

When a parent dies and leaves their child or children out of their will, those children are entitled to bring a claim against their parent’s estate under the Family Protection Act 1955 (FPA). While a financially stable adult child may not have a claim to a large  proportion of their parent’s estate, they will usually still have a claim for ‘recognition.’ The same is not true for children claiming against the estate of a stepparent.

The number of companies going into liquidation in New Zealand is on the rise. Did you know that payments made by a company before it goes into liquidation may also be at risk?

In August 2024, the government announced that it would progress a package of reforms to the Companies Act 1993 and related legislation. They are designed to address several issues and make New Zealand an easier and safer place to do business.

Despite the short-term nature of these roles, if you hire staff on a casual basis you still have significant legal responsibilities. This is highlighted in a recent case before the Employment Relations Authority.