News and Helpful Articles

Protect your assets in 2025 with a family trust in New Zealand. With rising Auckland property prices and Trusts Act 2019 rules, a trust secures your Pukekohe farm or home. Arnet Law’s trust lawyers in Pukekohe guide you through setup: define purpose, choose trustees, draft a deed, and register with IRD. Avoid pitfalls like poor trustee selection. Learn trustee duties. Contact Arnet Law today to start your trust!

Before we start legal work for our clients, we are required to carry out Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (“AML and CFT”) checks. We understand this can seem like an unnecessary and invasive step in engaging a lawyer. So why do we do this? Law firms are now required to complete these checks because they are significant targets for criminals to try to launder money through for the funding of terrorism and other illegal activities. How do we do this?

Before settlement, do a thorough inspection and checklist: test lights, doors and locks, taps and hot water, vents, drainage and fencing. Check all chattels listed in the agreement are present and working. Confirm any agreed repairs are completed, and clear belongings or rubbish before settlement to avoid issues later.

The overall concept of a Trust is simple. It is an arrangement that allows for a third party (i.e., Trustee), to hold assets on behalf of and for the benefit of another person or persons (a beneficiary or beneficiaries). A trustee might be appointed by someone to hold property in a family trust (also known as an inter vivos trust) or alternatively may be appointed in a person’s will (testamentary trust) to hold property and undertake duties in relation to it after a person h

What is a Will? Your will is your last wishes detailing how you would like your assets to be distributed and who will look after the people you love. This legal document also specifies who you appoint to be responsible for carrying out these wishes when you are gone. Why do you need a Will? Everyone should have a valid will to ensure the management of your estate is handled with no complications and makes for an easy administration process following your death. If you pass w

What’s happening? The new Trust Act 2019 (“the Act”) comes into effect from January 2021. It is estimated there are over 500,000 trusts in New Zealand and the Act will have an extraordinary impact on thousands of New Zealanders This is a considerable time of change and there is significant work to be carried out in getting prepared for the changes, We want to ensure that our clients are ready for the changes before January 30, 2021 deadline, this leaves us less than 10 month

COVID-19 contactless services The response to Covid-19 lockdown has introduced new challenges for lawyers to work remotely and provide a contactless service, including signing legal documents. These restrictions will continue as we move into Level 3 this week. The process of signing documents and verification of identity must now be completed remotely in a secure and reliable way. For property law, that includes complying with the requirements of Land Information New Zealand

The Trusts Act 2019 , which came into effect in January 2021, introduced important changes affecting trustees and beneficiaries across New Zealand. If you’re a trustee or beneficiary in Pukekohe, South Auckland, or Waiheke, understanding these changes is crucial to ensure your trust complies with the law. Key Duties Imposed on Trustees The Act clearly defines mandatory duties that trustees must follow, some of which cannot be modified or excluded by a trust deed. These includ

Family trusts were once seen as the ultimate tool for asset protection. Many asset holders believed that by establishing a trust and transferring their assets into it, they could protect wealth from rest home care fees and reduce tax liabilities. However, the landscape has changed significantly. Changes in Gift Duty and Rest Home Care Subsidy Since gift duty was abolished in New Zealand, the amount that can be gifted to a family trust without being considered a deprivation of