A death in the family
A guide for families/whānau dealing with the loss of a loved one
What this chapter covers
- Overview
- Confirming and registering the death
How the cause of death is confirmed by a doctor, nurse or coroner and how deaths are officially registered - Funerals and tangihanga
How to arrange a funeral and some legal rules relevant to tangihanga, tūpāpaku and gathering kaimoana - Burial and cremation
Rules around burial and cremation, including who has the legal power to make decisions about the body - Dealing with the deceased’s property: Wills, intestacy, and small estates
Dealing with and distributing the property under the terms of a will and what happens if there’s no will - Challenging a will
What happens if the will is invalid, and if you can make a claim under the Family Protections Act 1955, the Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act 1949, and the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 - Financial support for bereaved families
Financial support that’s available from Work and Income or ACC in some cases - Where to go for more support
Other information and resources
