For your life

Help Managing Estates and Resolving Disputes.

Support with managing estates and resolving family disputes

If you're dealing with a family member’s estate or facing conflict over a will, we can help. Our team offers clear legal advice and practical support during a stressful time.

Legal Advice for Estate Disputes

Managing an estate can be difficult, especially when family members do not agree on what should happen. Disputes can arise over wills, executors or how assets are distributed. We provide clear legal advice so you understand your rights, responsibilities and options.

Why Estate Issues Need Careful Handling

Estate disputes often involve:

Disagreements about the validity of a will
Concerns over undue influence or capacity
Executors not fulfilling their duties
Family members disagreeing about how property or money should be shared

If no will was left, we can explain the law of intestacy and who is legally entitled to inherit. Our aim is to guide you through the process with clarity and care.

Common Situations We Help With

We regularly assist clients with:

Disputes and challenges over wills

Executor disagreements and replacement applications

Administering estates where no will exists

Mediation and court proceedings in estate matters

We focus on resolving issues efficiently and fairly while ensuring your legal position is protected.

Advice That’s Practical and Respectful

We understand that estate disputes often involve grief, family history and emotion. Our role is to:

Provide straightforward legal advice

Help reduce conflict where possible

Support you in reaching a resolution that is fair and workable for your family

Our advice is grounded in experience and delivered with empathy and professionalism.

Where We Work

Our estate dispute team is based in Wellington, Lower Hutt and Masterton. We assist clients with estate and trust matters across the Wellington region, Hutt Valley, Wairarapa and throughout New Zealand.

Questions We Often Get Asked About Estate Disputes:

Yes. A will can be challenged if there are concerns about how it was made or if someone was unfairly left out. Common reasons include questions about capacity, undue influence or errors in signing. We help you understand whether you have grounds to challenge and what steps to take.

If someone dies without a will, their estate is distributed under the laws of intestacy. The Property (Relationships) Act and Administration Act set out who is entitled to inherit. We explain how this process works and help families manage the practical steps.

Executors have a duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries and manage the estate properly. If you have concerns about delay, communication or misuse of funds, we can review the situation and advise on how to resolve it, including applying to replace the executor if necessary.

Many estate disputes can be resolved through discussion or mediation without going to court. If court action is required, we guide you through the process and help present your position clearly and respectfully.