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Renee keeps it real

There’s more to Gallie Miles Solicitor Renee Dunn than meets the eye. A keen hunter and fisherwoman, she’s also a bit of an internet whizz and is a strong advocate for Estate and Asset Planning with her clients and peers. Read on to get to know more about Renee. Growing up on a Dairy Farm in Korakonui south of Te Awamutu, Gallie Miles Solicitor Renee Dunn hadn’t always imagined a career in law.“When I finished high school, I wasn’t 100% sure of what I would study,” says Renee.�...

Ending a marriage and getting a divorce

I want to end my marriage and get a divorce, but I don’t know where to start....

Case study: Seeking early legal advice pays off for sharemilker in NAIT prosecution

Following 4 charges being laid by Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) under the National Animal Identification and Tracing Act (NAIT), client ‘John*’ immediately sought the help of Gallie Miles to assist with the prosecution. That decision paid off, with the result being a record low penalty fined since the new penalty regime was introduced in 2019. Here we share the details.Introduced in 2012, the purpose of the NAIT Act is to establish an animal identification and tracking system, to acc...

Forever Home Found

Looking for their forever home in Hamilton, Nyssa and Leif Johannsen engaged the help of Gallie Miles’ Legal Executive Pam Ingram to finalise their property purchase.After relocating from Australia in 2020, Nyssa and Leif Johannsen first lived in Auckland before deciding to move to Hamilton last year.Parents to two school-aged boys, the couple started looking for their forever home in Hamilton.Leif works as an Accountant and Nyssa is an Insurance Manager, so they were looking for something in ...

A dream come true

When Courtney Kahura and husband Anthony bought their first home in Te Awamutu, they sought help from Alex McIvor to help them make their dream a reality. ...

Doing right by us

Following her father suffering a serious health event while holidaying in the Philippines, Grace Jones was ready to come home and be closer to family. Throughout the traumatic experience, the family received awesome help from Director Alex McIvor, so it was a no-brainer for Grace when it was her turn to require a solicitor.  While holidaying in the Philippines about three years ago, Grace Jones’ father Roderick Davison suffered a huge stroke.Delayed in the Philippines for several weeks wh...

Quick Action, the Key When Facing Business Difficulties

Businesses are now facing uncertain times. In recent months, we have seen several factors converging which impact on the operational and financial viability of many businesses.  Businesses that are trying to recover from trading difficulties and income lost during the past two years are facing high inflation, higher basic costs, material shortages and delays, increasing wages costs and higher interest costs. It is expected that the financial fallout from restrictions imposed by the governme...

What happens when there is no Will?

Losing a loved one is such a difficult time and it can be extremely overwhelming. When there is no Will, it can cause even more stress. In this blog, we look at what happens when there is no Will.In the instance of someone passing away without a Will, the legal term is called intestacy. What happens next depends on how much they have.Small Estates – Less than $15,000 in assets (per institution)  If the person who has passed has less than $15,000 from each institution (such as savings, sha...

Why do I need a Will?

Having a Will sorted will give you and your loved ones peace of mind. What do you want to happen when you die? Are those you care about looked after? What to you want to happen with your belongings and those that depend on you including your pets? In this article we cover what you need to know about setting up a Will. ...

What is an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)?

What would you want to happen if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself? Are your wishes for your personal care and welfare known? Will your property be protected and looked after? Here, we look at Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) and what you need to know....

​Relocation runs smooth with Kathryn

With a family relocation to Auckland on the cards, Greg Caie engaged the help of Kathryn Horton to assist with multiple property transactions....

Helping your child into their first home

In this crazy property market, it’s pretty common to hear of the struggles people face in securing their first home. With an extremely competitive market, stricter lending criteria and colossal prices, you may have a family member (most likely a child) in this situation. If you’re in a position to offer financial help, there are several options you could consider. In this blog post, we weigh up your options for how to help a child or other family member into property. ...

Understanding Enduring Powers of Attorney

David and Kathy recently came in to ask about Enduring Powers of Attorney. Kathy handles most of the finances for the farm and David is worried that if something happens to Kathy, he won’t be able to look after that side of the business. Kathy is worried that if David is seriously injured on the farm, someone needs to be able to make the decisions for his welfare. David and Kathy’s son is about to turn 18 and they wondered what would happen if he was injured and someone needed to make  ...

Do you still really need your Trust?

Will and Kate have heard about a new Trusts Act that comes into for on 30 January 2021.Will and Kate have been married for 25 years and have 2 children together – their son Harry who they are very close to and their daughter, Meghan, who they are estranged from. Will and Kate settled a Trust many years ago, while they were dairy farmers. At the time they owned a large farm and had many workers working for them. About ten years ago they sold the farm and have since retired onto a small lif...

Providing for a Blended Family Upon One’s Death

Join Nicole as she explains what happens in this certain scenario. If you are in a similar situation, we are here to help you. Get in touch with one of the team today....

Correctly Administering Your Trust

How to ensure that your trust is administered correctly.Following on from Shelley's previous video, she is here to talk about what you need to do to ensure that your trust is administered correctly if you have decided to keep it.If you have any questions about updating your trust, you can call us and we will be happy to help. ...

Dying without a Will in NZ

Nicole is here to explain what happens.Our solicitor, Nicole is back to explain what happens if you were to die without a Will in New Zealand.If you've been meaning to get started on your personalised Will, but just have never got around to it, here's your chance....

Do I Need To Keep My Trust?

Have you been wondering if you need to keep your trust? Shelley is here to explain to you whether or not you need to! At Gallie Miles Lawyers, we are happy to answer any questions that you may have....

Trusts don't necessarily protect your assets from a relationship claim

Our Director, Kirsty is here to talk to you about trusts. She states that trusts don't necessarily protect your assets from a relationship property claim. Watch the video to find out why. If you would like some advice as to whether your trust is protecting your assets from a relationship property claim, contact us today....

What you need to know: Buying Property off the Plans

With residential land and housing in short supply, and an incredibly competitive housing market, buying a new home off the plans is becoming more and more common. Here we look at what you need to know and when to seek legal advice, so you don’t end up out of pocket....

What are the benefits of having a Will?

While creating a Will may be a cost that most try to avoid, it provides many benefits to the loved ones you leave behind.A common misconception is that if you die intestate (e.g. die without a will) everything you own will automatically go to your partner and/or children.  If you die intestate and hold assets over the value of $15,000.00 the estate will need to apply to the High Court for Letters of Administration to appoint a personal representative, otherwise known as an Administrato...

Rural Roundup

A trust settled during a relationship will be unlikely to protect the assets that have been transferred into that trust.It is a fairly common misperception that a family trust is an effective barrier to all relationship property claims by an ex-spouse or ex-partner of a beneficiary of a trust. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. A trust settled during a relationship will be unlikely to protect the assets that have been transferred into that trust during the relationship.A trust that was ...

De Facto Relationships

When it comes to dividing up relationship property, you may ask what constitutes a de facto relationship?A de facto relationship exists only when both parties are aged at least 18 and they are living together as a couple, but are not married to each other or in a civil union. These are the essential but not the only factors that go to determining whether a relationship is or has been de facto.When deciding, the court will consider all the relevant circumstances, which may include:the length of t...

The Difference Between an Asset and a Liability

In business, the more your assets outweigh your liabilities, the stronger the financial health of your business.An asset is something you buy as an investment because it has the potential to become more valuable in time by being sold for a higher price, or because it produces a regular income or it can even be both. An asset puts money in your pocket.On the other hand, a liability is something that drains money from your pockets. Most things we buy each day are liabilities, but the goal of inves...

The Difference Between a Settlor, a Trustee and a Beneficiary

Ever wondered who is involved in a trust? We are breaking down the roles for you to easily understand.SettlorA settlor is a person or company that creates the trust. There can be more than one settlor of a trust.TrusteesThe trustees are the people who manage the trust. The settlor can also be a trustee. It can also be a good idea to appoint an independent trustee who is not a relative. For example, professionals like a lawyer or accountant. BeneficiariesThe beneficiaries are the people who benef...