Estates Booklet - The Closing Chapter

Home News & Views Estates Booklet - The Closing Chapter

A practical guide to help deal with the death and estate of close family or friends.

When someone close to you dies, whether family or a close friend, it’s a time of shock and dealing with the unexpected, as well as your own feelings of grief and loss.

You’re catapulted into thinking about organising a funeral, whether it will be a cremation or burial and how to organise the day, and then you also need to think about the Will and all the ramifications of dealing with the estate.

This booklet provides an overview to help you if you’re doing some preplanning, or organising a funeral of a family member or close friend.

We’ll guide you through the steps you need to take from the time of your loved one’s death through to their funeral.

Most of The Closing Chapter, however, focuses on what happens with the Will and the estate. There’s information for executors, trustees and beneficiaries as well as material about claims against an estate, dealing with small estates and what happens when there’s no Will. We’ve also covered some topics, such as asset planning, that beneficiaries of the estate may find useful.

We’ve provided a checklist of what to bring to the first appointment with the estate’s lawyer, as well as a step-by-step guide on clearing up the estate.

At the back of the booklet there’s a glossary of terms that you will hear as the necessary legal processes are worked through.

The Closing Chapter is designed for readers to ‘dip into’ and not necessarily for you to read cover-to-cover, so we have tried to ensure that each section is as complete as possible in itself. In order to do this, there is, of necessity, some repetition of material.

The death of a family member or close friend is a very emotional time. Even if the death wasn’t sudden, you have to work through grief and, often, a major change in your life. We hope this booklet helps to explain the processes and procedures around the death of a family member or close friend, gives some advice about organising a funeral and guides you through what to do in dealing with their estate. We also hope that you get some comfort from knowing there’s a guiding hand for you.

READ THE FULL ISSUE NOW

Or go back to overview

Going for Housing Growth – Addressing our Housing Crisis

On 4 July 2024, the Coalition Government introduced its plan to fix our housing crisis consisting of five interlocking actions.

Receiving an inheritance during your relationship

Relationships can be complicated waters to navigate at the best of times, but it can become even trickier when thought needs to be given to relationship property matters.

The Bank of Mum and Dad

Lending money to your children to buy their first home can be a generous and life-changing move, but it’s essential to consider the legal implications before proceeding.

Who really wants to be a trustee?

The Trust Act 2019 outlines the obligations of trustees, and when taking on a trusteeship an individual or company must be aware of the risks involved.

innovationagriculture energya tractor powered by livestock manure

Rural eSpeaking Summer 2022

Trusts and succession

Commercial eSpeaking Summer 2023

Letter of Intent

Fineprint Summer 2022

Greenwashing

Property eSpeaking Summer 2022

Negative equity on your property?

Commercial eSpeaking Spring 2022

Contract Compliance

Employment Investigations

ITS EMPLOYMENT MONTH!

Off the Record Episode 5 Jayne cover 1000

Off the Record - How will the new housing density rules affect Queenstown?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml7nmEmtvSY

Trust eSpeaking Spring 2022

Trusts Act 2019 also affects executors and administrators of wills

Whats the Difference Between a Debtor and a Creditor

Fineprint Winter 2022

Creditor compromise regime: Another option in insolvency Guest editorial: The economy - tougher times ahead? Love, heartbreak and...death? Make a new will and EPA's when you separate New Incorporated...

Off the Record - How to Survive a Legal Dispute

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ6pC9agrrs

Commercial eSpeaking Winter 2022

2022 Budget

Off the Record - Can your business handle divorce?

Senior Associate Scott Donaldson and Senior Solicitor Alice Milne have released episode 3 of their podcast, Off the Record.

Off the Record - A New Era for Directors' Duties

Senior Associate Scott Donaldson and Senior Solicitor Alice Milne have released episode two of their podcast, Off the Record.

Rural eSpeaking Autumn 2022

He Waka Eke Noa

CAN AN OWNER OBTAIN SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OF A BUILDING CONTRACT UPON A BUILDER’S REPUDIATION?

Duncan Anderson, Associate, Mactodd Lawyers, Queenstown

Off the Record - Fair Pay Agreements

Senior Associate Scott Donaldson and Senior Solicitor Alice Milne have started a new video podcast where they address issues in law affecting Queenstown businesses.

Fineprint - Autumn 2022

Mental health in the workplace Co-ownership arrangements Checking your home is accurately insured Helping your family before you pass away Notifications of privacy breaches increase significantly Post script

Commercial eSpeaking Summer 2022

Contractors

Fineprint - Summer 2021

- Defining a de facto relationship

ricardo gomez angel z6CcN8rlftY unsplash2

INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION LAW JOURNAL ARTICLE

Mann v Paterson Constructions Pty Ltd—Builders' Quantum Meruits Revisited' (2021) 37 Construction Law Journal 207 discusses recent changes to the law in Australia regarding restitutionary claims able to be made...

Fineprint - Winter 2021

Buying off the plans New edition of To Trust or Not to Trust Climate Action Toolbox Post-Covid working world An independent trustee Postscript

Rural eSpeaking Autumn 2021

Rural Leases - Should be more specific

Rural eSpeaking - Summer 2020

Investment in Farming - A focus on syndicated farm investments The finite supply of water - Water easements Over the Fence - Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill (submissions open),...

Commercial eSpeaking - Spring 2020

Fineprint - Winter 2020

Commercial eSpeaking - Winter 2020

The government’s Budget, presented by the Minister of Finance the Hon Grant Robertson on 14 May has addressed, in the words of the Minister, “a 1-in-100 year health and economic...

UNDERSTANDING EMPLOYMENT LAW DURING COVID-19

Home Buying, Selling & Moving Checklist

These helpful checklists will guide you thought some of the most important areas you and your lawyer need to address when purchasing or selling a residential property and also when moving.

On The Move - A Practical Guide For Buying & Selling Your Home

Also includes comprehensive checklists to you don't miss out any important step as well as details on how to protect your assets and when you also need to consider a...

Australian Guide To Buying Property In NZ

Not all investments in NZ require consent from the Overseas Investment Office (“OIO”) but like many countries NZ has controls on overseas investment. Certain land is subject to OIO consent.

Family Trust Guide

This practical guide designed to steer you through the essentials of Family Trusts including: Is a family trust for you? Protection given by a Family Trust. Planning for your life. Duties of trustees and how to run a trust. Costs.

Guide To Buying Real Estate In New Zealand

Our local knowledge, experience and expertise will provide you with the support and advice you need for a successful property purchase, regardless of the size or complexity of the transaction.

Chinese Buyers Guide To Buying Property in NZ

We have produced a practical guide on buying a home or an investment property in New Zealand in Mandarin.

Estates Booklet - The Closing Chapter

You’re catapulted into thinking about organising a funeral, whether it will be a cremation or burial and how to organise the day, and then you also need to think about...