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Practical information to help you understand your options and plan your next steps.
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The Search for a Missing Will
Read guide: The Search for a Missing WillThe family had searched every drawer in the house. They found insurance papers, old bank statements, passports that had expired years earlier and a folder…
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Lock, List and Protect: Securing an Estate’s Property
Read guide: Lock, List and Protect: Securing an Estate’s PropertyThe front door was unlocked when the executor arrived. Inside, several relatives were sorting through drawers. One had placed a box of photographs in the…
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The Executor’s Communication Playbook
Read guide: The Executor’s Communication PlaybookThree days after the funeral, the executor’s phone began filling with messages. One beneficiary wanted to know how much the house was worth. Another asked…
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Probate Without a Lawyer: A Careful DIY Guide
Read guide: Probate Without a Lawyer: A Careful DIY GuideThe executor had read the will three times. The appointment was clear. There was one original will, one executor, no handwritten changes and no obvious…
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Affidavit Mistakes That Can Stall Probate
Read guide: Affidavit Mistakes That Can Stall ProbateThe executor believed the probate application was finished. The deceased’s original will had been located, the death certificate was available, and the affidavit had been…
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Where Your NZ Probate Application Really Goes
Read guide: Where Your NZ Probate Application Really GoesThe executor lived in Dunedin. The deceased had lived in Christchurch. Most of the estate’s property was in Auckland, and the executor’s co-applicant had recently…
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Probate Granted: The Real Work Begins
Read guide: Probate Granted: The Real Work BeginsThe executor opened the envelope and read the first line twice. Probate had been granted. After weeks of locating documents, checking names, swearing an affidavit…
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Waiting for Probate: How to Check Its Progress
Read guide: Waiting for Probate: How to Check Its ProgressThe executor posted the probate application on a Monday morning. The tracking record showed that the package had been delivered. The filing fee had left…
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The Executor’s First 30 Days: A Practical New Zealand Checklist
Read guide: The Executor’s First 30 Days: A Practical New Zealand ChecklistThe first month after a death can feel strangely divided. On one side, there is grief: funeral arrangements, family conversations, memories, shock and exhaustion. On…
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