30 July 2019 was an important milestone in the land of trusts. That was the date the Trust Act 2019 became law in New Zealand. One of the objectives of this new law is to provide for greater transparency and accountability by trustees to beneficiaries...
Read ArticleTrusts hail from medieval times and one can be forgiven for thinking current trust law has been on our statute books since that time too. A combination of legislation, common law judgements and equity maxims result in the law being antiquated and complex. This frequently..
Read ArticleProperty contracts, including sale and purchase agreements and building contracts, sometimes include clauses that can be harmful to the unwary. And by unwary, I simply mean people who are not used to dealing with such legal documentation. One of the advantages of using a professional..
Read ArticleA new bill is making its way through Parliament which is going to see changes made to the current Trustee Act. All those with an existing trust should be aware of the implications imposed and the opportunities this new bill will bring when it becomes..
Read ArticleRecently I've seen several interesting client problems which would undoubtedly have resulted in lots of money being lost and lots of legal fees being incurred if these clients hadn't had GRA's Professional Trustee on board. Having now experienced three property cycles in my adult lifetime,..
Read ArticleIt is a common misconception that you have to live with someone for three years or more, and they have to make a direct contribution to the assets acquired during the relationship, before they're entitled to bring a relationship property claim. Possibly this mistaken belief..
Read ArticleEvery parent wants their children to have an equally good if not better life than what they've lived. To achieve that objective, parents tend to work hard to build up assets so they have something to leave their children when they die. This is done..
Read ArticleWe all know Trust law is a moving beast. The Court of Appeal recently demonstrated this when it released a judgement that had professional trustees using their little grey cells and thinking hard about their clients. The case involved a fairly traditional marriage, of reasonably..
Read ArticleMost people are aware that from 1 October 2015, residential property (with some exceptions) that is bought and sold within a two year period will attract tax payable on capital gains made. This rule will apply to equally to individuals, companies and Trusts. If a..
Read ArticleI found Matthew Gilligan’s Property 101 and Tax Structures 101 to be superb books for the following reasons: 1. They contain a wealth of information about property investing and related tax matters; 2. The commentary is very rounded and balanced; 3. They are filled with financially savvy practical tips and red flag warnings; and 4. The relatively informal style, use of short case studies and anecdotes to illustrate points, and the clarity of presentation make the books very reader friendly. The above combine to make two books that are educational, thought provoking and inspiring. I only wish I had access to this information much earlier. - Geoff W - April 2016
If you're investing in residential property, seeking to maximise your ability to succeed and minimise risk, then this is a 'must read'.
Matthew Gilligan provides a fresh look at residential property investment from an experienced investor’s viewpoint. Written in easy to understand language and including many case studies, Matthew explains the ins and outs of successful property investment.