When a person dies by leaving a Will, usually the Executor of that person’s Will will need to apply for Probate of the Will.

 

Probate in simplified terms means proving the Will before a Registrar of the High Court of New Zealand (the Court).

 

Once Probate is obtained, the Executor is able to administer the Estate (everything owned by the deceased person) in terms of the Will.

 

We can assist you in making application for Probate to the Court.

 

And in the unfortunate circumstance that a person dies without leaving a Will, then the Court, on application, may appoint an Administrator of that person’s Estate. The Administrator administers the Estate according to the Administration Act 1969.

 

The grant by the Court of power for the Administrator to act in relation to that person’s Estate is contained in document known as Letters of Administration on Intestacy.

 

We can assist in making application to the Court for formal Letters of Administration on Intestacy should that be required by you.

 

Whilst there can be no guarantee of success of such an application (because of the very nature of the application), we can try and assist at the very time when life is hardest for those left behind by the deceased without a formal will to dispose of their property.