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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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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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Probate Errors That Bring an Estate to a Standstill
Read guide: Probate Errors That Bring an Estate to a StandstillThe probate application looked ready. The executor had located the original will, ordered the death certificate and carefully signed the affidavit. The papers were filed…
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When Will the Estate Be Paid Out?
Read guide: When Will the Estate Be Paid Out?Three months after her father’s death, Mia received a message from her brother. “Probate has been granted. Why haven’t we been paid?” It sounded like…
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