Trusts, Asset Protection & Estate Planning

Estate planning is deeply personal – it is about people, relationships and trust, and getting things right for those who come after. Reviewing your succession plan early, and revisiting it as life changes, is one of the most effective ways to protect both your assets and the relationships that matter most.

Unexpected changes in life can place significant pressure on individuals, families and businesses. Illness, death, relationship breakdowns, or shifting financial needs can all threaten carefully built wealth if plans are not in place. Effective succession and estate planning looks ahead to these moments. Rather than assuming arrangements will unfold smoothly, it anticipates change and puts clear structure around decision‑making, exit options and expectations.

This planning is more important than ever. Increased property values, more sophisticated investment portfolios, and wealth spread across multiple properties, businesses and ownership structures add complexity to modern estate planning. At the same time, family dynamics are often more diverse. Second marriages, blended families, estranged relatives, and children at different life stages can all influence how an estate plays out. Taking the time to understand these relationships, sensitivities and potential pressure points can significantly reduce the risk of disputes and unintended outcomes.

Our estate planning lawyers work closely with individuals, families and business owners to develop comprehensive, tailored succession and estate plans. This may include:

Preparing or updating Wills that carefully consider executors, trustees and guardians
Advising on Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPOAs) to protect you if you lose capacity
Establishing or reviewing Family Trusts for asset protection and succession purposes
Advising on contracting out (pre‑nuptial or relationship property) agreements when entering a new relationship
Structuring business succession plans to provide certainty and continuity

If you do not plan for the future, decisions about your affairs may be made by others – and those decisions may not reflect your wishes or protect your beneficiaries. Early advice can provide certainty, flexibility and peace of mind. If you have an estate or Will query, or would like to review your succession planning, please contact our Succession and Estates team at estates@hobec.co.nz.

Our Experience Includes:

Wills & Estate Planning

Drafting of Wills, including International Wills
Living Wills / Advance Care Plans – documenting your medical treatment wishes if you are unable to communicate
Powers of Attorney
Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPOA) for Property and Personal Care & Welfare
Multi‑jurisdictional estates and succession planning – managing assets and inheritance across multiple countries
Forgiveness of debt and gifting programmes as part of estate and asset planning

Trusts & Trustee Services

Establishment of Family Trusts and Charitable Trusts
Advice to trustees on duties, compliance and decision‑making
Resettlement of assets into Trust structures
Winding up and termination of Trusts
Independent trustee, executor and trustee services
Ongoing active management of trusts, including administration, decision‑making and statutory compliance

Relationship Property & Agreements

Relationship Property advice (married, de facto, and civil union relationships)
Contracting Out Agreements / Prenuptial Agreements
Relationship Property Agreements and Separation Agreements

Capacity, Elder Law & Care

Applications for Property Orders and Personal Care Orders for individuals who have lost mental capacity
Legal advice on Retirement Villages and Rest Home agreements
Residential Care Subsidy applications
Maximisation of government subsidies and entitlements, including financial means testing advice