Estates - protecting your legacy and your loved ones' future

Estates

- protecting your legacy and your loved ones' future

and why it’s essential to have legal expertise you can trust

Step 1: Responding to an Emergency

  • If your loved one has a medical emergency, the first step is to provide first aid if possible. If necessary, call Emergency Services on triple one ‘111’. This is also the number to call if your loved one has passed away unexpectedly, or if you are not sure if they are dead.

  • It's also important to communicate with family members and close friends as soon as possible to let them know what has happened. This can be a difficult and emotional task, but it's important to ensure that everyone who needs to know is informed.

  • You should also locate important legal documents such as the last Will, Funeral Directives, and Memorandum of Wishes (for trusts). These documents will help you determine the deceased's wishes and make important decisions about the funeral and estate administration.

Step 2: Organising the Funeral

  • Personalising the funeral can help to honour the deceased's legacy and celebrate their life. Consider incorporating elements that reflect their character and favourite things.

    If your loved one has prepared their own funeral directives, the planning process will be far easier.

  • A funeral director can take care of legal and practical tasks, as well as organising a minister or celebrant, death and funeral notices, flowers, catering, and support services for bereaved family and friends.

  • Arranging the funeral yourself is an option, but there are legal requirements that need to be taken care of such as confirmation of the cause of death and registering the death with Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Embalming isn’t always necessary if the body is to be buried or cremated within two or three days after death.

    Where can bodies be buried?

    Cremation in New Zealand

Step 3: Administering the Estate

  • At Ross Holmes Virtual Lawyers Limited, we understand that protecting your legacy and your family's future is of the utmost importance. Our estate administration services are delivered with compassion and understanding. We know that dealing with the loss of a loved one is never easy, and we're here to support you every step of the way.

  • Our experienced team can help you navigate the complex process of estate administration, ensuring that your loved one's wishes are carried out and their assets are distributed according to their wishes. We'll work closely with you and your family to ensure that the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

  • You can contact us today to discuss your estate administration needs. We can assist you with all or part of the estate administration. You decide. Kirsty Hourigan can discuss our Executor Help services with you: Email kirstyh@rossholmes.co.nz

Disclaimer: This article should not be relied upon for legal advice. Always seek professional legal advice before making any decisions regarding your business.