News and views | Aspiring Law

Who gets Ms Peaches if we separate?

In New Zealand, dogs are legally classified as household pets under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976.

Relationship & Family Relationship property
Hiring casual employees

Despite the short-term nature of these roles, if you hire staff on a casual basis you still have significant legal responsibilities. This is highlighted in a recent case before the Employment Relations Authority.

Employment & HR
Contracting out agreements for relationships late in life

Contracting out agreements can be entered into at any time during a relationship and are particularly useful for couples entering into a de facto relationship, or marrying later in life, as both parties are more likely to come to the relationship with more complex financial affairs.

Relationship & Family
Neighbourhood subdivisions

As urban land becomes more expensive, landowners and developers are constantly looking for ways to get the most out of their patch of dirt.

Residential property
The plight of stepchildren

When a parent dies and leaves their child or children out of their will, those children are entitled to bring a claim against their parent’s estate under the Family Protection Act 1955 (FPA). While a financially stable adult child may not have a claim to a large proportion of their parent’s estate, they will usually still have a claim for ‘recognition.’ The same is not true for children claiming against the estate of a stepparent.

Trusts and Life planning
Voidable transactions

The number of companies going into liquidation in New Zealand is on the rise. Did you know that payments made by a company before it goes into liquidation may also be at risk?

Business & Commercial
Modernising the Companies Act

In August 2024, the government announced that it would progress a package of reforms to the Companies Act 1993 and related legislation. They are designed to address several issues and make New Zealand an easier and safer place to do business.

Business & Commercial
Do not pass GO until your title is checked

Buying a property today is never straightforward. There are many checks and balances that must be carried out before you can pass GO.

Residential property