Estates

When a person dies, their property passes to their personal representative. He or she then distributes those assets (money, possessions and property) in accordance with their Will or as set out in the law if there isn’t a Will.

Administering an estate can be challenging without proper guidance, and there usually is a lot to arrange when a loved one passes away. At The Law Shop we have an experienced and caring team that can help make the process easier.

We can help review the deceased person’s paperwork, to determine what is included in the estate, such as the assets and debts. We can then apply for probate or letters of administration if its necessary, and correspond with third parties.

As your lawyer, we can arrange the transfer of all assets into the executor’s name, and make sure all debts are paid. When it comes to distributing the estate, we can help make sure that the balance left is distributed correctly to named beneficiaries. If the deceased owned a house we can arrange the transfer of the title and rates, or we can assist with selling the property.

There is a lot to think about when someone close to you passes away, but the friendly team at The Law Shop is here to help make it easier. Feel free to contact our property team at any time – 0800 LAW SHOP – team@thelawshop.co.nz. We can help whether our firm or another wrote the Will and if there is no Will.