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I don't have a Will
What actually happens if you die without one in NZ.
You're healthy and busy, and a Will has never felt urgent. But if the unexpected happens without one, the law — not you — decides what happens next.
Without a clear Will
- You die 'intestate'. The Administration Act 1969 sets a fixed formula for who inherits — it may not match your wishes.
- Someone must apply to the High Court to be appointed 'administrator' before anything can be distributed. This takes time.
- Your partner does not automatically receive everything — children and, sometimes, parents share the estate by formula.
- Bank accounts and assets can be frozen while the paperwork is sorted, right when your family needs support.
- Disagreements are more likely, and legal costs come out of the estate.
With a Will
- You name the person you trust to sort everything out (your executor).
- You decide exactly who receives what.
- You appoint guardians for children under 18.
- The process is faster, cheaper and calmer for the people you love.
Practical guidance for NZ
- A Will in NZ must be in writing, signed by you in front of two witnesses who are both present at the same time.
- Review it after any big life change — a relationship, a child, a house, a separation.
Ready to prepare for your own Will?
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