Challenging a will If you think the will isn’t legally valid Is the will legally valid? You might choose to challenge the legal validity of a will if: the will was not properly signed and witnessed (see: “Is my will valid?”) the…
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Challenging a will If the will is unfair to family members Who can make a claim under the Family Protection Act? Property (Relationships) Act 1976, s 2 The Family Protection Act 1955 states the deceased might have a moral duty to provide…
Challenging a will If the deceased promised to give you something in their will When can I make a claim under the Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act? Law Reform (Testamentary Promises) Act 1949, s 3 You can make a claim under the…
Challenging a will Relationship property laws if your partner has died What if I owned property jointly with my partner? If you owned property jointly with your partner, depending on how the ownership was structured, you might automatically own the property when…
Financial support for bereaved families Overview Who can we go to for financial support? If the deceased’s family or whānau can’t afford to pay for the funeral or tangihanga, they’ll need to go into their local Work and Income office and apply…
Financial support for bereaved families Funeral/tangihanga costs Who can provide funding for the funeral or tangihanga? Social Security Act 2018, ss 90–94 Social Security Regulations 2018, reg 55 Accident Compensation Act 2001, s 69, Schedule 1, clause 64 You may be able to…
Financial support for bereaved families Ongoing income support and some one-off payments Ongoing income support from Work and Income If you don’t have any income, you can apply to Work and Income for an ongoing benefit. The type of benefit you might…
Where to go for more support Community Law Your local Community Law Centre can provide you with free initial legal advice. Find your local Community Law Centre online: www.communitylaw.org.nz/our-law-centres Confirmation of the cause of death – Coroners The website of Coronial Services…
Disability rights Information to empower disabled and Deaf people What this chapter covers Rights that are recognised internationally: The UN Disability Convention Your rights and how you can enforce them Decision making: When others can legally make decisions for you The different…
Disability Rights Rights that are recognised internationally: The UN Disability Convention What does the UN Disability Convention mean for disabled people in New Zealand? The United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an important international treaty that New Zealand…
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