Recent changes to New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act (AML/CFT) have eased compliance requirements for family trusts, particularly when selling property. The reforms, in force from June 2025, respond to long-standing criticism that the old rules placed too much burden on low-risk transactions. What Has Changed Previously, whenever a trust was

We often hear a sigh of relief when a client signs their Will. The assumption of course is “Ok great – that’s over and done with”. No need to think about it again. Unfortunately, that is just not the case. A Will is not something to write and forget. It should be reviewed regularly, especially

The Trusts Act 2019 outlines two types of trustee duties: compulsory and default. It’s essential for trustees and beneficiaries to understand these responsibilities to ensure the trust functions as intended and complies with the law. COMPULSORY DUTIES The mandatory duties, which cannot be changed or excluded, are foundational to trust management. They ensure that trustees:

The death of a partner or spouse is an emotionally challenging time, often compounded by the practical difficulties of managing finances and paying for expenses. Understanding how joint accounts work and the requirements of obtaining probate can help streamline financial matters during such times. In running a busy Estates practice, we often see things happening

If you are a client, it is likely that you will have heard from us about why you should have a Will. Sometimes changes to your life or family circumstances require a revision to the Will and this can be overlooked. It is not at all surprising that this can happen as the types of