Package Fee (incl GST)

• $455 - Law Society members and Associate members (usually $530)
• $595 - Non-members (usually $710)

Note: Access to the online files is via your "My CPD" page. If you would like to purchase multiple packages, please contact us here.

Online CPD Modules

No Will - an intestate estate - 2 CPD hours

• Publication date: September 2022
• Authors: Theresa Donnelly, Henry Stokes

The death of a family member is an extremely stressful time, and this is compounded if they die without a will. As many as 50% of New Zealanders will die with no will, and even if they have a will there may be a partial intestacy or “special” intestacy (where the executors fail). It is crucial you understand the intestacy process, including the succession trusts and how far they go. If you get it wrong it can be too late to fix things after distribution.

This module will include:

• The search for a will – what must be covered off
• Discussions on testamentary documents – are you looking at a Validation instead?
• An overview of the application itself; who can apply and the documents required
• Understanding the succession trusts, how they work and how far they go
• The search for beneficiaries – the steps you need to take, how far must you go and when you have done enough
• Administration issues in brief, including Declarations of Family History.

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Rethinking Traditional Asset Planning in NZ - 2 CPD hours

• Publication date: May 2021
• Authors: Vicki Ammundsen, Henry Brandts-Giesen

Trusts are often the centrepiece of a New Zealand family’s asset plan, however, quite often they provide only limited benefits and sometimes they cause more problems than they purport to solve. This seminar will take a practical approach in helping you advise your clients on the various benefits of and applications for trusts, some of the disadvantages, the associated governance and compliance obligations, and some alternative asset planning devices.

This seminar will include discussion about:

• The reasons for asset planning
• The traditional approach to asset planning in New Zealand
• Some of the challenges faced by the modern asset planner
• Alternative and additional approaches to asset planning.

Wills & Estates - 2 CPD hours

• Publication date: October 2020
• Authors: Catherine Atchison, Stephen McCarthy

When clients are contemplating making their wills, the distribution of assets may make perfect sense to them, but issues can quickly emerge upon death. The Law Commission is currently reviewing all aspects of succession law focusing on entitlements to a deceased’s property. They will be examining who shall be entitled to further provision despite the terms of a deceased’s will and policy justifications for those entitlements. Given the changes to the Trustee Act 2019, which comes in to force in January 2021, and the changes in the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, it is time to consider whether succession planning in its current context is relevant in today's world. This module will take a practical approach in helping you make sense of the changing landscape and some of the key issues in these complex areas.

This module will include:

• Recent family protection and testamentary promises cases
• A summary of principles from cases that involve:
  - a surviving spouse or partner of a second or subsequent relationship, particularly where there are children of the deceased from a previous relationship
  - an inter vivos trust settled by the deceased
• The mis-fit between the PRA and the FPA
• Discussion on the review of succession law
• Demographic and social changes in New Zealand
• Structuring of different types of wills and testamentary trusts
• Wills in a multi-jurisdictional world.

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Older Client Issues - 1 CPD hour

• Publication date: May 2021
• Author: Fleur McDonald

Following on from a session at the Christchurch CPD Day in February 2021, this module will consider some of the key matters that you are likely to encounter when working with older clients.

This module will include:

• Enduring Powers of Attorney – what is required from the donor
• What to do if an Enduring Power of Attorney doesn’t exist - applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1998
• The latest developments with the Residential Care Subsidy Regime.

Fleur will take a practical approach that will help ensure that you are able to provide your clients with effective advice in this area

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