Newsletter - November 2024
Welcome to our final newsletter for 2024 - with the holiday season almost upon us, the last few weeks before Christmas can often be quite overwhelming. So, we thought we would wrap things up a little early as well as provide you with a few things to contemplate (in terms of your legal affairs) over the beach and BBQ period. We also thought it would be a good time to remind everyone that as the year winds down, any last minute legal matters should be attended to as quickly as possible.
If you need our assistance before the year ends, please make sure you in get in touch with one of our team as soon as possible (our holiday hours are listed at the end of this article).
It has been an interesting and often challenging year and I am sure most of us will be looking forward to finally being able to down tools, taking some much needed time out to spend with family and friends. A good time to recharge and prepare for what we hope will be a less turbulent 12 months ahead.
Holiday Legal Checklist
Property Law: Closing Property Transactions Before the Holidays
The property market often heats up before the holidays, with buyers and sellers racing to complete transactions before the break and everyone heads for the beach. There are also plenty of people using the holiday season as a time to evaluate their housing arrangements and to research the property market during their time off.
Act Early: Many agencies and banks close or operate reduced hours over the holidays. Aim to finalise settlements before mid-December to avoid delays.
Holiday Contracts: If you’re considering buying or selling over the break, talk to us now about drafting and reviewing contracts.
Check Key Dates: The LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) e-dealing system may have limited processing times; we can guide you on what’s achievable.
Business Law: Preparing for the New Year
The end of the year is a perfect time for businesses to take stock (literally and figuratively). Having some time away from the day to day operations of the business is a great opportunity to review existing operations and plans for the future.
Review Contracts: Check for contracts due to renew or terminate in the new year and consider whether it might be time to renegotiate.
Holiday Pay: Be mindful of legal obligations for employees working on public holidays, and ensure proper holiday pay calculations are made. It is also good to be prepared with staffing needs during the summer period.
Annual Resolutions: If you operate a company, now’s a great time to complete any required annual resolutions for shareholders or directors.
Estate Planning: Ensure Peace of Mind Over the Holidays
The holidays are a time for relaxing and spending valuable time with family - it can also be a great time to ensure your family’s future is secure.
Update Your Will: Life changes like marriage, divorce, or welcoming children may mean your will needs updating. 2024 has been a complex and challenging year for many and those challenges might mean your will needs an update. The holiday period is a good time to review, enabling you to take action and update your will early in the new year.
Powers of Attorney: An enduring power of attorney ensures someone you trust can act on your behalf if needed - this might be something you need to consider over the holiday break.
Gifting Assets: The end of the year is a great time to discuss estate planning, as you catch up with loved ones, all gathering together to enjoy the holiday season. Why not take the time to consider how your assets will be distributed and then put any changes in place in the new year.
Family Law: Navigating Holiday Custody Arrangements
The holidays can be a stressful time, particularly for families where there are custody arrangements to negotiate. It pays to try and plan ahead and have these discussions as early as possible, so that everyone is in agreement and knows what will happen over the festive season.
Plan Ahead: Ensure parenting arrangements are clear and agreed upon well before the holidays commence. This reduces stress and avoids disputes that could arise during the actual holiday period.
Legal Support: If you’re experiencing difficulty with custody arrangements or need to modify existing agreements, we can assist. Be mindful of timing and closure dates for urgent matters.
Communication: Open communication at this time of the year with co-parents can help set clear expectations and prevent last-minute disagreements – letting everyone have a more relaxed and enjoyable holiday period.
Immigration Law: Planning Ahead for Visa Applications
For clients navigating New Zealand’s immigration system, the holidays can bring unexpected delays and also be a very tense part of the year as INZ closes down for an extended period. If you are waiting for a decision on a visa or have yet to file one, being unable to track progress or get in touch with INZ can create additional stress, you really don’t need.
Visa Expiry: Double-check visa expiry dates and submit renewal applications early. With INZ experiencing higher volumes of visitors and students at this time of the year it pays to act quickly and make sure you file any applications for further temporary visas, well ahead of time.
Travel Plans: If you’re traveling abroad, and are a Resident Visa holder, make sure your travel conditions, give you enough time to return. We often find people forget about these dates and end up leaving NZ on a planned holiday, only to discover they don’t have the right conditions to return with.
Future Applications: Start planning ahead for any applications you might need to make in 2025 - particularly if you are working your way towards Residence. Turner Hopkins offers tailored advice to suit your immigration goals and can also keep you up to date with changes as they happen.
Trusts and Disputes: Review and Resolve
If you’re a trustee or beneficiary, the end of the year can be a good time to ensure everything is in order and to undertake a review of your existing arrangements. You might decide you need to make some changes, which you can action in the new year.
Trust Distributions: Consider any annual distributions that you might need to make under your trust deed and document these correctly.
Review Roles: Are the right people acting as trustees? The end-of-year, away from the usual distractions, can be a really good time to re-evaluate roles and responsibilities.
Resolve Disputes: Trust disputes can escalate quickly if not managed correctly. If unresolved issues exist, act quickly to prevent them from disrupting your new year and festive season.
Turner Hopkins Holiday Dates
Our offices will be closed over the holiday season, based on the dates listed below. During this time, our phone lines will be diverted to voicemail (which will be cleared on our first day back) and emails will not be monitored. We urge any clients, who have any existing legal matters to attend to, to get in touch with us as soon as possible, before we close for the holidays.
Closing Date & Time: Friday, 20 December 2024 at 3:00pm.
Opening Date & Time: Monday, 13 January 2025 at 8.30am.
If you do need to contact us in an emergency, then please email law@turnerhopkins.co.nz as this will be monitored over the break, specifically for urgent matters.
A Message From The Team
The holiday season means different things for different people, but for most of us, it means a chance to take a step back from the daily grind, spend quality time with friends and family (and extended family), and to have a moment to reflect on what has been and what will come in the year ahead.
We hope that you all manage to get some time off and no matter how you spend it, that you have a safe, enjoyable and relaxing holiday break.
We would like to thank all of our clients for their support in 2024 and we look forward to working with you again in 2025, in what we are sure will be a very different year.
From our family to yours, stay safe, and enjoy the break.
Until next year!
Happy Holidays from the team at Turner Hopkins
