GRA Blogs

Wallis Simpson, Mistress of the King of England, was frequently quoted as saying "must have, can get". Of course her way of getting was to ensure others, such as her husband and the King, got for her. For most of us however, 'must have, can get'..

As the Trustee Services partner at Gilligan Rowe & Associates, I'm often asked by trustees what we think is going to happen in the economy, the property market and with interest rates. We answer questions like this all the time, as helping people make and..

I'M TELLING ALL! After plenty of anxious moments and sleepless nights, I've done it. Yes, I have written a book. "Family Trusts 101" has finally been born. Trusts are never easy creatures to understand but I think this book should help all New Zealanders comprehend the..

As you can imagine, we see lots of different types of trust deeds here at GRA. Despite there being a variety of deeds around, there are some common provisions we like in all our clients' deeds of trust. One of these provisions relates to decision..

An interesting case has recently been handed down from the courts. This case now provides parents with the rights to strip their children of inheritances. The judgment goes against what was previously believed good law. To date, we have all thought that parents owe a duty..

Last week a friend of mine unexpectedly passed away. His passing left behind many family members and friends in great pain. It also resulted in quite a nightmare when it came down to dealing with his business and his personal assets. Since this is a..

Congratulations! You've scrimped, scraped and struggled. But you've managed it! Yes, you've got your foot on the first rung of the property ladder. Finally, you have a place of your own. Just like a game of snakes and ladders though, you can easily slip down and..

Thinking about and planning for our death is understandably a subject that most people prefer not to think about. It comes as no surprise to us because we see it every day, that many people just simply do not plan for what happens to their..