A Clear Plan to Protect Your Family and Your Wishes

If you die without a will you are said to die intestate. Your estate is distributed according to the Administration Act 1969 — not according to your wishes. This means your assets may not go to the people you intended, and your family may face delays, additional costs, and unnecessary stress at an already difficult time. A will puts you in control.

A Simple Will leaves everything to one person (typically a spouse or partner) and then to children equally. It suits people with straightforward assets and family situations.

A Normal Will is more detailed — it includes specific gifts, flexible trust provisions, and a wider range of instructions for your executors. It is suitable for most people.

A Complex Will is used where there are blended family issues, vulnerable beneficiaries, business interests, or where assets need to pass into one or more trusts on death. Compare will types in detail →

An Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) appoints someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity. There are two types — one for property and financial decisions, and one for personal care and welfare decisions. Without an EPA, your family may need to apply to the court for authority to act on your behalf, which is costly and time-consuming. EPAs are one of the most important documents you can put in place — and they are included in every will-based estate plan we prepare.

For many people, a well-prepared will-based estate plan is enough to achieve their goals. A trust may be worth considering if you own property or a business, are in a second relationship, have a blended family, or want to protect assets across generations. If you are not sure, our free online assessment tools can help you think through which approach suits you — or book a free 15-minute introduction and we will talk it through with you. Learn about trust-based plans →

Yes. You can update your will at any time while you have mental capacity. Minor changes can be made by way of a codicil. More significant changes are usually best dealt with by preparing a new will. We recommend reviewing your will whenever your circumstances change — marriage, separation, the birth of a child, a significant change in assets, or the death of a beneficiary or executor are all good triggers for a review.

Yes — significantly. In New Zealand, marriage or entering into a civil union does not automatically revoke a will, but separation does not revoke it either. This means your existing will may not reflect your current wishes if your relationship status has changed. It is important to review and update your will after any significant relationship change. We can advise you on what steps to take.

Advance Health Care Directives record your wishes about medical treatment if you are unable to communicate — including life support decisions, palliative care preferences, organ donation, and participation in medical research. They give your family and medical team clear guidance at an extremely difficult time.

Funeral Directives record your wishes for burial or cremation, the type of service you want, and any cultural or religious requirements. They reduce the burden on your family when they are grieving and ensure your wishes are known and followed.

Once you have completed the online questionnaire, we typically prepare your documents within 5–10 working days. We will then review them with you and arrange signing — at our Auckland or Rotorua offices, or via Zoom. The whole process from questionnaire to signed documents usually takes 2–3 weeks, depending on how quickly information is provided and when you are available to sign.

We store your original will and estate planning documents securely at no charge. We also record your documents in our file system so that your executors or family can contact us when needed. We recommend telling your executor that we hold your will and giving them our contact details.