Estate & Asset Protection Planning
Protect Your Family, Your Home & Your Legacy
Clear, practical advice on will-based and trust-based estate plans — tailored to your family, your assets, and your goals. Not templates. Not guesswork. Your plan, properly done.
What Is an Estate & Asset Protection Plan?
It’s more than just a will. A good plan protects your assets, your family, and your wishes — now and in the future.
A good estate plan does more than say “who gets what.” It protects your family home and other assets from unforeseen claims, reduces stress and conflict for the people you leave behind, and makes sure your wishes are clear and legally enforceable. For most New Zealand families and small business owners, the right plan is either a will-based estate plan or a trust-based estate and asset protection plan — or sometimes a combination of both. We help you understand the differences and choose the approach that best fits your situation.
Which Estate Plan Is Right for You?
The right answer depends on your assets, your family, and your goals. Here’s how to think about it.
Will-Based Estate Plan
A will-based plan includes a carefully drafted will, enduring powers of attorney for property and personal care, advance healthcare directives, and guidance on digital assets. It’s the right foundation for most people — and often more thorough than you might expect.
May suit you if: you have straightforward assets, a nuclear family, and no significant business or asset protection concerns.
Will-Based Plans →Trust-Based Estate & Asset Protection Plan
A trust-based plan places your key assets into a family trust, providing a much higher level of protection. It includes a will, enduring powers of attorney, and trust documentation — all working together as a single coordinated structure.
May suit you if: you own property, run a business, have a blended family, or want to protect assets from relationship property claims or creditors.
Trust-Based Plans →🔍 Not Sure Which Is Right for You? Try Our Free Online Assessment
Complete a short questionnaire and receive a free report outlining the legal documents you are likely to need, the advantages of each approach, and why expert legal advice matters. Bring the report to your first meeting, or use it to think through your options.
How We Work with You
Personalised legal advice, delivered in a way that suits you — online, by Zoom, or in person.
We Listen to You
We take time to understand your family, your assets, your business, and your goals — before we recommend anything.
We Design Your Plan
We explain the options in plain English, recommend the right approach for your situation, and prepare documents that are designed to work — not just exist on paper.
We Keep You on Track
Life changes. We help you review and update your plan as your family, assets, and circumstances evolve.
Complete Your Estate Planning Questionnaire Online
Our will-based estate planning questionnaires are now available online — complete them at home, in your own time, on any device. Trust-based estate planning, asset protection, and probate questionnaires are completing soon. You gather your information, we prepare your documents.
Start Your Online Questionnaire →
Explore in More Depth
Choose a topic to learn more about your options, your obligations, and your rights.
Plans & Pricing
Will-Based Estate Plans
When a well-structured will is enough.
Types of Wills
Simple, Normal and Complex — compared.
Trust-Based Estate Plans
When you need a trust for extra protection.
Types of Trusts
Family, Parallel, Defined Interest and more.
Charitable Trusts
Structuring your giving for long-term impact.
Memorandum of Wishes
Guiding your trustees on how to use their powers.
Managing & Reviewing Your Trust
Reviewing Your Trust
Trusts Act 2019 compliance and updates.
Administering Your Trust
Practical guidance for trustees.
The Trusts Act 2019
What has changed and what it means for your trust.
Winding Up a Trust
When and how to wind up — and when not to.
Our Questionnaire Guide
Step-by-step help completing our questionnaire.
Estates
Administering estates and protecting your legacy.
Trust Risks & Challenges
Invalidity of Trusts
The three certainties and when a trust fails.
Sham Trusts
When a trust is just a facade.
Alter Ego Trusts
When the settlor retains too much control.
Trusts & Relationship Property
How separation can affect trust assets.
Trusts & Section 182
Nuptial settlements and post-separation claims.
Start with a Free Guide or Online Assessment
Download our plain-English guide to estate planning, or use our free online tools to assess which documents you need — then talk to us when you're ready.
Ready to Protect What Matters Most?
Get your personalised online quote in minutes — no cost, no obligation. Or book a free 15-minute introduction to talk things through first. We’re here to help you achieve your objectives, not to blow our own trumpet.
Tel: +64 9 415 0099 • reception@rossholmes.co.nz • 2 Airborne Rd, Rosedale, Auckland