Dissolving a marriage – How do I go about filing for divorce?

Environment & Resource Management We are pleased to share that our specialist resource management team has once again been recognised in the Doyle’s Guide rankings for Environment & Resource Management. Vanessa Hamm, Partner, was recognised as a Recommended Leading Environment & Resource Management Lawyer in this years list. Holland Beckett was also recommended in the Leading Environment & Resource Management Law Firms list. Family & Relationship Property Rebecca Savage, Partner, has been listed as a Recommended Leading Family & Relationship Property Lawyer in this year\'s rankings. Congratulations to Vanessa and her team, and to Rebecca, on this recognition. Doyles is the \'premier rankings of Leading Lawyers, Law Firms & Barristers across Asia-Pacific, the UK & the UAE\'. We\'re honoured to be included in these listings, which pull together New Zealand based solicitors and firms who have been identified by clients and peers for their expertise and abilities in each area.

We have officially settled into our new office in the heart of Tauranga and, working with Downtown Tauranga, we welcome the city centre community to our ‘Downtown Legal’ Seminar Series. Across three concise evening sessions, our specialist legal teams will unpack key areas of law that affect almost everyone - whether personally or as a business owner. Designed to be practical, accessible and informative, each free seminar offers the opportunity to hear directly from experienced lawyers, gain clarity on common legal issues and ask questions in a relaxed setting. All seminars are free and located at Holland Beckett - Level 3, Northern Quarter, 45 The Strand, Tauranga Drinks and nibbles are provided. There are three seminars, each covering a differnt area of law - you can attend whichever are of interest to you: Relationship Property Wednesday 6 May | 5:30pm - 6:30pm Our family law team will provide an introduction to relationship property - an increasingly important topic as blended families become more common. Topics include: What is relationship property What happens in the event of a separation What you can do to protect your assets How relationship property is treated on death Hot tips Employment Law Update Wednesday 13 May | 5:30pm - 6:30pm An update from employment law experts on recent and proposed employment law changes, including: Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 Proposed changes to the Holidays Act, and health and safety legislation An overview of recent case law and the implications for small business Succession and Estate Planning Wednesday 20 May – 5:30pm - 6:30pm Our succession and estates team will outline key estate planning tools that allow you to determine what happens to your estate and ensure that those who matter most are cared for. They will cover: What happens if you die without a Will Will fundamentals Use of trusts, EPOAs and other estate planning tips To register to attend any of the events, click here: Downtown Legal Seminar Series with Holland Beckett

Parenting after separation can be hard. What do you do if you cannot agree on care arrangements for the holidays? What do I do if we cannot agree? There are several options available to parents who cannot agree on care arrangements.   Parenting Through Separation Course This is a free course provided by the Ministry of Justice to help people parent well through separation. It will run over key areas of conflict, run through scenarios and provide you with practical advice to deal with disagreements. The parenting through separation course is often a pre-requisite of applying to the court.   Family Dispute Resolution The first option is a Family Dispute Resolution (sometimes referred to as FDR conferences). A Family Dispute Resolution is a specialist form of mediation. The mediator is not a Judge, but will attempt to assist you both to come to an agreement. You are not forced to come to an agreement but the mediator is a professional who will give you both the time to share your perspectives, concerns and desired outcomes. Family Dispute Resolution is also a common pre-requisite of applying to the court.   Applying to the Court for a Parenting Order If you have been unsuccessful at coming to an agreement with a parenting through separation course and Family Dispute Resolution, you can apply to the court for a parenting order. A parenting order will set out the care arrangements for the children in a legally binding agreement. You will both have the opportunity to file documents requesting your preferred care arrangements and a lawyer is appointed to represent your children. The Judge will ultimately make a decision at a final court hearing. This is not a quick process though and it is important to understand this. The advantage is that the Judge’s decision will be binding and any variations will have to be consented to by the other parent.   What if I already have a parenting order? If you already have a parenting order you can apply to the Court to have those orders changed.   However, this process can take a long time, so it is necessary to begin proceedings a significant amount of time before the holiday in question.   If a parenting order is already in place, it is an offence to break the terms of the order. This means that even if where the kids are during the holidays is not specified in the order, you cannot change the normal arrangement without the other parent’s consent.   What can I do if the other parent breaches the parenting order? It is an offence for either of you to breach the terms of the parenting order. If the other parent refuses to give you the agreed care, you can qpply to the court for a warrant to enforce the terms of the parenting order. This will give the Police or your social worker the authority to take the children and return them to your care when the other parent is breaching the terms of the parenting order.    If you would like to discuss next steps with a lawyer, our specialist Family Law team is here to help. We have the experience and the know how to help you through your separation and care of children needs.