Sep 8, 2021Kiwis living overseas & estatesOften people appoint family members as the executors and trustees in their wills. If one of the named executors is a New Zealand Citizen...
Aug 24, 2021Estates and taxesThe often quoted “The only two certainties in life are death and taxes” (Benjamin Franklin 1789), is still true today....
Aug 17, 2021Calling all KiwisaversKiwiSaver is a first important step to creating your wealth. The second important step is to protect that wealth...
Jul 5, 2021What is Customer Due Diligence?Why do need to ask for information? New Zealand has passed a law called the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism...
Jun 29, 2021Dishonest TrusteesA Will-maker wanted to ensure that every family member would receive equal treatment, so he set up a trust and appointed his two eldest...
Jun 23, 2021What to expect when finalising an estateWhen a loved one passes away grief is experienced differently by each family, and members within each family, and administering an estate...
Mar 25, 2021When a trustee of a trust loses mental capacityA person losing their mental capacity can look like many different things. Essentially it means that they are no longer competent to...
Mar 16, 2021The same questions keep coming up in our trust reviews…Let us answer these very briefly. What does the new trusts legislation require? In simple terms, the new Trusts Act requires trustees to...
Mar 10, 2021What is a trust review?With much written and discussed on the Trusts Act 2019 the spotlight on family trusts is an excellent opportunity to take look at your...
Mar 2, 2021Does your trust need a tune-up?Just as a motor vehicle should be subject to regular tune-ups, so too a trust should be subject to review from time to time. This means...
Feb 2, 2021Be wary of 'conflicts of interest'One situation to watch out for is where two family members approach the same lawyer. Cordiality between the clients can blind the lawyer...
Aug 20, 2020Your WillIt is easy to put off one of the most important documents that you will make in your lifetime – your Will. You may already have a Will in...
Oct 18, 2019Enduring Powers of AttorneyWhat is an Enduring Power of Attorney and what does it actually do? Enduring Powers of Attorney were first introduced in New Zealand in...
Sep 8, 2019Now is the time to make a WillLucas and Lucas advise all our clients that a Will is one of the most important legal documents you can have, especially if you have...