To gift or not to gift: what are the consequences?
Parliament has abolished gift duty from 1 October 2011.
That means that from 1 October you can make a gift of any size without incurring gift duty (tax). … Read More
The price of milk – is it too high or is the market just misunderstood?
For many New Zealanders the cost of dairy products in the supermarket is not just high, but really high.… Read More
Director’s responsibilities when a business is in trouble
When a business is in trouble there will inevitably be tension between the completing rights and interests of the various stakeholders. Directors are often either driven to seek to save the business or to extract money that they have put into the business.… Read More
Have a safe trip!
Increasing safety on the roads and decreasing the road toll is an ongoing problem – the Land Transport (Road Safety and other Matters) Amendment Bill aims to address this.… Read More
What is a “memorandum of wishes”?
A memorandum of wishes is often signed in conjunction with a trust deed. What is it?… Read More
Relationship property division – how times have changed
When the Property (Relationships) Act was introduced in 2001 it was heralded by some as the start of a new era in family law.… Read More
You act for the bank as well?
Clients coming to New Zealand from the United Kingdom and Australia are often surprised that New Zealand lawyers can (and customarily do) act for both the client who is purchasing land and buildings and the Bank or other lending institution which is advancing the funding for the purchase.… Read More
Creditors beware!
In the current recessionary environment there are many business struggling to stay afloat.… Read More
Onerous protection: the new unit titles rules
The Unit Titles Regulations 2011, while designed to protect members of the public, it imposes considerable obligations on persons involved.… Read More
Are you mentally capable of signing a will?
How do you tell if someone is mentally capable of signing a will? What does the law say?… Read More
Could you be the victim of a scam?
Given how prevalent and tricky some scams are, we should all be wary. Anyone can be targeted, and don’t assume that you will not be sucked in.… Read More
Can a family trust help me protect my property in the event of a relationship breakdown?
Whether a trust will provide you with protection in this situation will depend largely on timing. A trust is an ideal structure to protect assets acquired before or in the early stages of a relationship.… Read More