Family demographics have changed significantly over the
past 60 years. To keep up, the Property (Relationships) Act
1976 (PRA) was amended in 2002 to extend the property sharing to
heterosexual and homosexual de facto and civil union
partners.
By Dharsh Nanayakkara - 26 Sep 2019
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The role of an attorney appointed under an EPA for
property is a significant one which should be taken seriously and
should not be accepted lightly. Accepting such an appointment
creates legal obligations and duties which cannot easily be
changed. This blog seeks to provide some guidance to a person
acting as a property attorney.
By Emma Foster - 17 Sep 2019
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You've got your deposit, you've found the right property, now a
multi-page document is sitting in front of you and a real estate
agent is asking you to sign. It is imperative that you get in touch
with a lawyer before you enter into an agreement. The best chance
of you negotiating favourable terms is before you
sign. This is even more important if you are planning on buying a
property "off the plans" that has not yet been subdivided or built.
More information about buying off the plans is available in a
previous blog.
By Michael Bennett - 10 Sep 2019
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In 2015 the Court of Appeal told landlords they could not
recover the cost of damage caused by their residential tenants
unless it was done intentionally. This was because the Property Law
Act 2007 said that a landlord could not require a tenant to meet
the cost of damage which can be insured against. From 27
August 2019 the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 dictates the law on
this issue.
By Mathew Martin - 28 Aug 2019
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The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 determines what is
and is not "relationship property" and which assets should be
divided equally between de facto partners and spouses on
separation. It also defines "separate property" as assets owned by
one partner alone and not to be shared equally. But in a country
with the highest number of trusts per capita in the world, what
happens if your assets are held in trust?
By Telise Kelly - 18 Aug 2019
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On Wednesday the much anticipated Trusts Bill finally
received the Royal tick of approval and officially became an Act of
Parliament. Pursuant to section 2, the provisions of the Act will
come into force on 1 February 2021. This is probably the most
significant change to trust law in the past thirty years or
more.
By Emma Foster - 1 Aug 2019
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For many people trying to purchase their first home,
getting together a deposit is often a daunting thought that may
seem unattainable. There are, however, a number of resources that
you can tap into to help get you to that ever important point where
you can move from paying your landlord's mortgage to paying your
own.
By Michael Bennett - 23 Jul 2019
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When buying off the plans, there are a number of extra
terms and conditions which need considering before signing an
agreement. We discuss a few of these below.
By Michael Bennett - 15 Jul 2019
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Your child has found the property of their dreams, but
they are a little short on their deposit so you decide to help them
out. Before transferring the money, it is essential you talk to us
about protecting your contribution.
By Michael Bennett - 8 Jul 2019
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By law, overseas investors in sensitive land and significant
business assets in New Zealand must be of (and must maintain) 'good
character'. The Overseas Investment Office (OIO)
considers many factors when assessing an overseas investor's
character. The term 'good character' generally means acting
appropriately, including but not limited to not committing any
offences nor contravening any laws.
By Steven Lee and Genelle Seah - 12 Jun 2019
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