Materials comprised of a Paper and PowerPoint Handout.
Event Date:
3 March 2026
Presenters:
Theresa Donnelly Head of Legal, Perpetual Guardian
Henry Stokes Company Secretary, Perpetual Guardian
Synopsis:
The death of a family member is an extremely stressful time. This is compounded when the deceased has died without a will. The absence of clear instructions in a will may lead to complex legal processes, increased costs, and disputes among family members. Some who die without have significant and complex estates, which can again compound issues.
This paper will provide information to refresh your understanding of how the law of intestacy determines how the estate is divided among surviving relatives, and the legal process followed. Getting this wrong can have real consequences. It can be hard to get the money back after a distribution made in error.
This practical paper is delivered by experienced presenters who will bring the subject matter to life with real world examples.
It will provide an overview of the intestacy process including:
- Applying for Letters of Administration, including who can apply (and in what order)
- Adhering to distribution rules outlined in the Administration Act 1969, while recognising this may not align with the deceased's actual wishes
- Identifying and valuing assets where records are unavailable or withheld
- Ensuring adequate provision for dependents
- Intestacy involving Māori land.
The presenters have discussed pitfalls, thorny issues and have provided helpful tips and guidance. A key takeaway is how to apply for and administer an intestacy quickly and efficiently, saving costs to the estate.
These Materials will help you:
Apply for & administer intestate estates efficiently, setting out key steps in the process
Understand the distribution rules applied in Intestacy for seamless distribution
Search for missing beneficiaries and how to deal with other missing information such as identifying and valuing assets.
Intended Audience:
This session is ideal for general as well as family, trust and estate practitioners including legal executives and civil litigators and those wishing to make estate administration a larger part of their practice.
