First Home Buyers: 7 tips to check off before you sign
The Sale and Purchase Agreement can be a daunting document for first home buyers. That is why we strongly recommend first home buyers seek independent legal advice from us before making an offer. Here, we have provided seven tips that ca n help ensure you’re sorted before signing an agreement to buy a property. 1. […]
Parents helping children into their first home
To guarantee or not to guarantee… It seems impossible for the current and upcoming generation of young adults to enter the property market with the cost of housing in today’s market and the stringent rules put in place by New Zealand’s banking institutions. The current rules surrounding deposits for any prospective buyer is that (in […]
Pro bono assistance: Julie Chapman and the Pet Refuge
Schnauer and Co has been providing pro bono assistance to Julie Chapman and the Pet Refuge to get this most worthwhile cause off the ground. You can read more about New Zealand’s first shelter for pets affected by domestic violence here.
Changes to Trust Law – the Trusts Act 2019
If you have a trust or are a trustee of a trust, you need to be aware of the changes to trust law that will be brought by the Trusts Act 2019 which will apply to new and existing trusts. The Act will come into force on 30 January 2021, replacing the Trustee Act 1956. […]
Our internal policies on AML compliance
Each year approximately $1.35 billion from the proceeds of fraud and illegal drugs is laundered through every day New Zealand businesses. For this reason and since the introduction of Anti-Money Laundering Legislation that has applied to lawyers since 1 July 2018, we have drastically expanded our efforts to better protect you, your money, and our local community. […]
What happens to your commercial lease during the COVID-19 lockdown?
Here is some practical, and legal, advice if you are a commercial landlord or tenant, and your business is affected by the Covid-19 lockdown. The first point is that landlords have a business too, that of commercial property ownership and investment. They will be equally as affected as tenants that operate businesses from landlords’ buildings […]
Trusts Act 2019 – Trustees Take Stock Now!
COVID-19 has forced us to slow down, take a breath and re-focus. For Trustees it is now a good time to take stock of the trust that is under their control, particularly with the impending implementation of the new Trusts Act 2019. When the alert levels reduce and the world starts to wind up again, […]
Shared care arrangements during lockdown
The government’s response to COVID-19 has caused some concern for those who have shared care or contact arrangements for their children. We are mindful that there will be some confusion or questions regarding what parents can and can’t do during the different Alert Levels. Principal Family Court Judge Moran has offered some guidance on what […]
Working through COVID-19? What you need to know
As indicated by the countless and inescapable articles and news stories, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us all into an unprecedented time which has not only put our health at risk but that also poses a risk for New Zealanders’ employment. As of 11.59pm on Wednesday 25 March 2020, New Zealand was raised to Alert […]
Family Violence
New Zealand is a beautiful country and a wonderful place to live, particularly in these Covid times. We feel relatively safe and perhaps even a little smug. However, not everyone in our little piece of paradise is safe from violence. Violence is not limited to physical violence and indeed it is arguable that verbal, emotional, […]
Reverse Mortgages: When going backwards can be the forwards move you just may want to consider
Reverse Mortgages have been in New Zealand since the early 2000’s. According to Google, the concept was actually devised by a bank manager in the USA back in 1961 who was wanting to make sure that the widowed wife of his high school football coach could stay in her home after losing her husband. If […]
Executor Responsibility
If you are an Executor under a Will you are not only dealing with the grief of losing a loved one, but you now have the added responsibility of Estate administration. The first thing to be aware of, is that Powers of Attorney cease to have effect. They cannot be relied upon to access bank […]
A New Dymond at Schnauer and Co
When it comes to your business, having the right legal advice from someone you trust is key. Schnauer and Co are therefore pleased to announce and welcome Alison Dymond who has joined us to head up our property and commercial team. Alison has a wealth of domestic and international experience that she applies to all […]
The Woes of Incapacity when you have a Trust
Like most developed countries New Zealand has an aging population. As people are living longer this usually brings with it physical and mental challenges that may result in unanticipated legal issues unless you have taken the time to keep your legal housekeeping up to date. As a country that loves trusts, the implications are significant […]
Preparing to Jump through Hoops for Success
The recent changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (CCCFA) and Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Regulations 2004 (CCCFR) are intended to add security to borrowers by enabling them to make informed choices and ensure that they are able to meet their debts. They also require a greater standard of due diligence […]
Parenting Disagreements About Vaccinations
Certain decisions by parents need to be made jointly. For example, what school your child attends and now in 2022, whether your child should receive the Covid-19 vaccinations. If there is disagreement, guardians can apply under section 46R of the Care of Children Act (the Act), to have a Judge make the decision. This issue […]