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Gallie Miles now offering JustFund Estate Funding

Gallie Miles is excited to announce that we now offer Estate Law funding through our partnership with JustFund, to offer more flexible solutions for estate law legal fees.JustFund is New Zealand's only dedicated provider of flexible funding solutions for estate law and family law legal fees. We understand that when you're navigating a separation, relationship property or estate law matter, the financial strain can sometimes stand in the way of getting the legal support you need. That's why ...

Solution Oriented – Kirsty McDonald

Relationship Property and Dispute Resolution can often be a stressful and challenging time for clients, but Gallie Miles Director Kirsty McDonald does her best to stay focused on solutions to help clients move forward with their lives.“It can be quite a challenging area to work in, as people are going through dramatic changes in their lives and there can be a lot of emotion involved,” says Kirsty.Kirsty has over 30 years of experience, since 1994. Over her career she has had a wide range of ...

Wills and Estates - Mum Died and Left Everything to Stepdad: What Are Your Options?

When a parent dies and leaves everything to a surviving stepparent, it can be very difficult for children, particularly where the expectation was that they would share in the estate under the Will. A common reason this happens is how property is owned between partners....

A move to the country with the help of Gallie Miles

Wanting to move out of town and embrace the country lifestyle, Te Awamutu couple Chris and Jaime Boulton enlisted the help of Gallie Miles’ Kathryn Horton to help them with their property sale and purchase. Parents to three teenaged children, Jaime and Chris Boulton dreamed of buying a property with some land. “We had been looking for a house with a bit of land for some time, but many were way out of our price range,” says Jaime, who works as a teacher at a local country school. “We rea...

Farm Succession made easy with Gallie Miles

Purchasing a piece of dairy farming land that has been in the family since 1898, Jarrod and Kim Godfrey enlisted the help of the Gallie Miles team. Alex & Martha Cameron were the first generation of the family to own the farm in Roto O Rangi. “Sadly, their sons Colin and John were killed in WW1 so, the farm passed to their daughter Mary Cameron. With her husband William Godfrey, they turned it into a dairy farm that has supplied Cambridge Co-operative Dairies and legacy companies (ie Fonte...

Gallie Miles opens new Cambridge legal office

Gallie Miles is excited to announce we have opened a new office in Cambridge, further expanding our Waikato presence. With offices already in Te Awamutu and Hamilton, Director Bryce Bluett says opening in Cambridge was a logical next step for the firm. “We already have a range of clients in the Cambridge area, and some team members who live here, so it was a logical next step for us to expand and open a new office here,” says Bryce. “Not only is it convenient for our clients to meet us he...

Getting to know Tab

Senior Legal Executive Tabatha Brill is always on the move—and we mean always. When she’s not at work, she’s clocking up steps chasing after her three kids or perfecting her latest sporting obsession: Pickleball. In this blog, we get to know Tab a little better—and what keeps her buzzing.Tabatha Brill (or just “Tab” to the rest of us) has racked up more than 12 years in law, with the last two spent at Gallie Miles.A Senior Registered Legal Executive, Tab is your go-to for estate admi...

What happens when you die without a Will?

What happens if you die without a Will and leave behind your partner? It all depends on whether you have children and parents. Use this flow chart to see what happens when you die without a Will....

The only way is up with Rachel

With her approachable, friendly demeanour, Gallie Miles Senior Solicitor Rachel Cooper offers a calming, reassuring presence when people are going through sometimes difficult relationship property and commercial dispute matters. In this blog, we learn a bit more about Rachel and the not so usual path she took that saw her practising law.Originally from the Hawkes Bay, Rachel now lives in the Waikato with her husband and two children. She has worked as a drug investigator for New Zealand Customs ...

Gallie Miles Partners with JustFund to offer more flexible solutions for family law legal fees

Gallie Miles is excited to announce that we have partnered with JustFund, a smarter, flexible way to fund your Family Law Matter.  We understand that when you're navigating a separation or relationship property matter, the financial strain can sometimes stand in the way of getting the legal support you need.That's why we've partnered with JustFund - New Zealand's only dedicated provider of flexible funding solutions for family law legal fees. Through this partnership, eligible cli...

Home Buyers Guide – Things to think about

Thinking of buying a house or property? What are the things you need to think about when buying a house? When does your lawyer get involved when you’re buying a house? Whether you’re a first-home buyer or a seasoned property purchaser, this guide takes you through the key stages of buying a house and the key things you need to think about at each step. ...

The kindest and most practical thing you can do for your family

No one enjoys talking about Wills, but having one in place is one of the kindest and most practical things you can do for your family. A Will sets out clearly who receives your home, your savings, personal belongings, and any investments (including your KiwiSaver). It allows you to appoint someone you trust to carry out your wishes and, if needed, to provide for grandchildren, charities, or specific gifts that matter to you. Most importantly, it removes uncertainty at a time when your loved...

In the news - Whitcoulls Will template left $126,000 estate in legal limbo

A recent story in The Press highlights the importance of having a proper Will. Kiwi's are great at DIY, but a Will is not something you should DIY. We can help. The story: Joan Frances Bourne did not trust professionals.At 87, when she decided to write her will at her granddaughter Monique’s baby shower in November 2017, she was determined to do it her own way - without going to a lawyer’s office.A recently released High Court judgment reveals her daughter Karen had purchased a tem...

Property purchases and insurance – are you covered?

When purchasing your property, it probably doesn’t come to mind whether there could be a problem with getting insurance, or that the premiums may be out of your budget. While it’s not a legal requirement in New Zealand to have insurance for a home when you are purchasing, it is a non-negotiable requirement of your bank if you are borrowing money to purchase it. With many insurers looking into the impacts of environmental changes in New Zealand, the effect on insurance is becoming clear. Pre...

$700k goes to NZ Government following the death of a New Zealander with no Will or traceable family members

A recent case highlighted by the New Zealand Herald highlights the importance of having a Will. The New Zealand Government received almost $700,000 from the deceased’s estate, when they died without a Will and no traceable family members.The article states that this is the largest sum of ownerless property in New Zealand since 2015.It is estimated approximately 50% of New Zealand adults don’t have a Will.Gallie Miles Wills expert and Senior Solicitor Renee Dunn n explains that when someone d...

Could Your Children Lose Everything to a Stepparent? Protect Their Inheritance in a Second Marriage

You’ve found love again and want to make sure your children are looked after when you’re gone. But did you know that your Will might not be enough to protect your children’s inheritance, especially if you own your home or other assets jointly with your new spouse?...

Why is a contracting out agreement important?

You worked hard to buy your home. Or maybe you’ve been left an inheritance you’d like to protect. But did you know that under New Zealand law, after just three years in a relationship, your assets could be split 50/50 if things don’t work out or if you die?That means:The family home you purchased before your partner moved in could end up being shared equally.The inheritance you received from your parents could be at risk.The assets you thought you were leaving to your children may no longe...

No will, no peace: The cost of avoiding one important conversation

Reshare from Stuff Are you one of the approximately 50% of New Zealanders who doesn’t have a Will? Stuff reports that each year, about 1500 people die without one. That’s 1500 families thrown into legal limbo at the worst possible moment, dealing with bureaucracy when they should be grieving.Don’t let yourself be one of them. And if you’re thinking you don’t have anything worth leaving, you’re probably wrong. If you’re working and have a KiwiSaver account, a car, some savings,...

Top Tips for Successful Farm Succession

Farming is a way of life, so it can be difficult to imagine handing over the reins, exiting from it altogether or selling a particular farming asset.For many, planning for rural farm succession doesn’t come easily, forcing you to think about the unexpected and planning ahead for what you want to happen. Here are some of my top tips to having a robust rural succession plan.1. Consider the ‘what-ifs’While you’re busy living your day-to-day life, thinking about the unimaginable ‘what if�...

Winter Enewsletter

Welcome to our winter newsletter! There's lots going on at Gallie Miles across our Hamilton, Te Awamutu and Otorohanga offices. In this client newsletter below, we're sharing an insight blog on planning for retirement living and ensuring your Will keeps up. We're also sharing a 'point of view' blog on feeling like you don't have enough time to do your Will, which is a common pain point many clients experience. Our Property Law Team are providing insight in...

What is a Solicitor’s Approval Clause?

Commonly included in property sale and purchase agreements, a solicitor’s approval clause usually means that the agreement depends on your lawyer being satisfied with the contract terms. Here’s what you need to know about solicitor’s approval clauses....

Planning for Retirement Living? Make Sure Your Will Keeps Up

As more New Zealanders choose the lifestyle, security, and community of retirement villages, it's important to make sure your estate planning reflects this shift, especially if you or your partner may one day want to enter into an Occupation Right Agreement (ORA) at a retirement village.An ORA is the most common way people purchase the right to live in a retirement village unit, villa or apartment but here's the catch: your Will may not automatically give your surviving partner the authority to ...

Point of View - I don’t have enough time to do my Will

Busy parents - we hear you! You're juggling a million things, and the last thing on your mind is getting a Will sorted. You might be thinking, “I don’t have time,” or “I don’t have the mental capacity for that right now.”But imagine the unthinkable happens — you're no longer here to fix things like you always do. Would people know what you’d want for your kids? Who should care for them? How should your assets be handled?Our team is here to make the process simple and stress...

Event - Legal Planning for Life

Gallie Miles is holding a free 'Legal Planning for Life' session at the Te Awamutu & District Memorial RSA. Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2025Time: 7:00 PMVenue: Te Awamutu RSA Join our team for an informative evening covering key legal topics to help you plan for the future with confidence.Bring your questions – we’re here to help!...

Sue signing off

After 21 years at Gallie Miles, Sue Garmonsway is signing off from the firm in mid-June. She is looking forward to spending more time with family and friends and focusing on some of her other passions including teaching law. We’re looking back on her career, where she’s seen the firm go from dictating on a tape recorder to embracing technology and developing a new generation of Lawyers. Read on below. As a Law Graduate, Sue Garmonsway spent the first two years of her legal career working in ...