Leaving chattels under a will
There is a presumption often made by the will maker that they can leave the chattels they have to the executors and the family to sort out once they have died. A generic chattels clause is inserted in the will…
Incorporated Societies Changes
What You Need to Know: Incorporated Societies Changes Is Your Incorporated Society Prepared for the Law Changes? Incorporated Societies have been governed by the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 (“the 1908 Act”) for the last 114 years. While this Act has…
Overview of the End of Life Choice Act 2019
The End of Live Choice Act 2019 came into effect in November 2021 (“the Act”). It establishes the framework for the process, the eligibility and safeguards for the service of assisted dying in New Zealand. It is overseen by the…
What is a testamentary guardian and what they can/can’t do
Generally, a mother and father are referred to as the natural guardians of their child. Section 26 of the Care of Children Act 2004 provides that a testamentary guardian is a guardian appointed by deed or by will by a…
Tenants in common: when one wants to sell
Property sharing agreements are becoming more prevalent as individuals seek certainty of outcomes, where unforeseen circumstances intervene after property purchases. The form of property ownership known as ‘tenancy in common’ is becoming more popular due to this. This form of…
Vaccine Pass Required for Entry
For the safety of our employees and our community our policy is that only people who are fully vaccinated are able to visit our premises, and all visitors will be asked to scan their My Vaccine Pass on arrival. Alternative…
Season’s Greetings from the team at Steven’s Orchard Lawyers
Thank you for your loyalty and support throughout 2021 On behalf of the entire team at Stevens Orchard Lawyers, we'd like to wish you and your families, a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. In the…
Trusts: when is a loan really a distribution?
Loans to beneficiaries are often made without proper consideration as to whether the powers being exercised will affect the preservation of trust assets or how these will affect any benefits to beneficiaries. Recording a payment to a beneficiary as a…
Taxes on utes rules
The Government is taking action in line with the advice of the Climate Change Commission to increase uptake of low emission vehicles by introducing a range of measures that will help meet New Zealand’s 2050 carbon neutral target. The Land…
When rural farm debt requires solutions
All businesses have their financial ups and downs and farming businesses are no exception. A new act, the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2019, is designed to assist, while also avoiding the spotlight which often publicly shines when debt needs addressing. The…
Enduring Power of Attorneys – A brief guide
Life can be uncertain and we never know what is just around the corner. No matter what age you are, anyone could have an accident or become seriously ill. In these circumstances, someone needs to step in and make sure…