Wills, Powers of Attorney & Estate Planning

Whether you are getting your first will or reviewing a complex estate, the approach is the same: we look at the full picture. Your documents reflect it.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Most people who've tried to get a will done have a version of the same story. You book the appointment, sit down with a lawyer, explain everything you want. You leave feeling like you've made real progress.


Three weeks later, a draft arrives in your inbox. Life gets busy. You mean to read it. Nobody follows up. Six months pass. A year later, your will still isn't signed.


This isn't unusual. It's what happens when a law firm treats a will like any other file — drafted, sent, and left to you to action.

"A will that's never signed protects no one.

We make sure yours is."

We draft, we follow up, and we guide you through signing before the matter closes. Every time.

THE COST OF DOING NOTHING

If you don't decide, the law decides for you.

Die without a will in New Zealand and a fixed statutory formula decides who inherits, in shares that may be nothing like what you would have chosen. A partner, children from an earlier relationship, or someone you meant to provide for can end up with far more, or far less, than you intended.


If you have young children, the will is also where you name their guardian. Without one, that decision is left to others, and potentially to the Family Court, at the worst possible time.

Even when the outcome is what you wanted, the process is harder

Without a clear will, your family faces more paperwork, more delay, and more cost, precisely when they are least able to deal with it. A will does not just record your wishes. It spares the people you leave behind a great deal of difficulty.

WHAT WE REVIEW

Estate planning is more than a will. Here's everything we look at.

Most people don't realise how many things sit outside their will or how easily a mismatch between documents can cause problems later.

Your will

Who inherits what, executor appointment, guardianship of minor children, and specific bequests.

How your assets are owned

Property held as joint tenants passes automatically to the surviving owner — your will has no effect on it. Property held as tenants in common passes under your will. The ownership structure determines the outcome, and we check it for every asset.

Enduring Powers of Attorney

Two separate EPAs in NZ — one for property and finances, one for personal care and welfare. Both are needed; neither is automatic.

Insurance ownership

A named beneficiary passes outside your estate entirely. This is one of the most commonly misunderstood areas of estate planning.

Trust structures

If there's a family trust, your will must reflect it correctly, including who holds powers of appointment and what happens on your death.

Advanced directives

Your wishes regarding medical treatment if you become unable to communicate them.

Beneficiary designations

Across insurance policies and investments — checking these are current and consistent with your overall estate plan.

WHO IT'S FOR

Estate planning isn't only for the wealthy. It's for anyone who wants their affairs properly in order.

Most people don't realise this: in New Zealand, once you have more than $40,000 in any single asset (a bank account, KiwiSaver, or investment), your estate will require formal administration on your death. Your beneficiaries will need to go through a legal process to access it. A will makes that significantly simpler, faster, and less costly for the people you leave behind.

— You have more than $40,000 in any single asset: bank account, KiwiSaver, or investment

— You've just bought your first property

— You've started or ended a relationship

— You have children or are expecting

— You have a family trust

— You've received or expect an inheritance

— You have assets in more than one country

— Your will hasn't been updated in years

— You simply haven't got around to it yet

HOW IT WORKS

A thorough process, because your estate plan is only as good as its execution.

1) Consultation

We understand your situation: your family, assets, structures, and goals. We identify gaps and confirm the scope and fee upfront.

2) Review and drafting

We review existing structures, check ownership and nominations, and draft your will and EPAs to reflect the full picture.

3) Signing

We guide you through the signing and witnessing process, and we follow up to make sure it's completed. A will that's never signed protects no one.

We make sure yours is done.

4) Ongoing review

Every 3 to 5 years, or after any major life change: separation, new child, new trust, or significant asset change.

WHY SPECIALIST MATTERS

Estate planning is a specialist discipline. Ours is grounded in it.

Polina is a member of STEP — the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners — the global professional body for practitioners in this field. She has been a STEP member since her student years.


That means when we review your estate plan, we bring a level of technical depth that goes beyond a standard will drafting service. The insurance ownership question, the trust interaction, the cross-border complexity — these are things a STEP practitioner is specifically trained to identify.

What this means for you


You are not just getting a will. You are getting a review by a practitioner who understands how all the moving parts interact  and who will flag issues you didn't know to ask about.


STEP Member — Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners

RESOURCES

Read before you book.

The Hidden Dangers of Free Online Wills in NZ

Why DIY templates often fail NZ families — and what a properly drafted will actually involves.


The NZ Estate Administration Process — A Step-by-Step Guide for Executors

What happens after someone dies — probate, intestacy, and the 2025 threshold changes.


45 Years Too Late: Supreme Court Shuts Door on Out of Time Estate Claim

Why the timing of estate planning decisions matters — and what happens when it's left too long.

Not sure where to start? That's what the free call is for.

Fifteen minutes. Tell us your situation and we'll tell you what you need, and what you don't. No obligation.