News

Q: I purchased something on layby and the store has gone out of business. Can I get my money back? A: As long as you haven’t fallen behind the payment ...
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Did you know that property buyers are better protected when purchasing through a real estate agent rather than privately? It’s illegal for anyone (both real estate agents and private sellers) to ...
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As this turbulent year draws to a close, we hope that everyone can take some much-needed time to unwind and enjoy some long summer days.   We feel very lucky ...
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This year has been an incredibly challenging one and there are many families in our community struggling to make ends meet. For these families, Christmas can be a time of ...
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Q: What can you do if a loved one is losing their mental capacity and they don't have an Enduring Power of Attorney? A: In an ideal world, every adult ...
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Although most of us have good intentions towards our neighbours, drainage issues are often a source of conflict. Drain problems can be very costly, so tensions tend to mount quickly ...
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If you’re making a Will or updating your existing one, here are the main details your lawyer will need to know: Who you would like to appoint as the executor ...
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We’re thrilled to welcome Abbie Featherstone to Armstrong Murray this week.   Abbie has more than 10 years of experience as a solicitor and has developed strong expertise in property ...
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We stumbled across this photo recently, taken in 1961 when the Armstrong Murray offices were being built. Ian Armstrong, the founding partner of Armstrong Murray, had been practising on his ...
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This is Debbie, our brilliant Legal Executive. She’s the newest addition to our team, but it already feels like she’s been here forever. Our clients love her just as much ...
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Q: I’ve gifted a lot of money to my family over the years. Will this be included in my asset test for the Residential Care Subsidy?   A: It depends ...
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How can I ensure my kids won’t mismanage their inheritance? You could appoint a guardian in your Will. If you die before your children turn 18, their guardian would be ...
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Thinking of moving into a retirement village? You’re not the only one. 18% of Aucklanders aged 75+ live in retirement villages and the rate of village residency is growing each ...
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We’re very pleased to announce that Hannah Blewden has been promoted to Senior Solicitor, effective as of last week. Hannah started at Armstrong Murray as a Law Clerk in 2014 ...
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What is a LIM? And why should you check it before buying a property? The LIM (Land Information Memorandum) is a report the council can prepare for you on request, ...
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Thinking about bidding at auction or putting an offer on a property? Make sure you’ve ticked these boxes first: ✅ Confirm that the bank has approved your finance for this ...
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This is Desiree, our Practice Manager - a.k.a. the superwoman who keeps our firm ticking behind the scenes. She wears many hats, solving IT issues one minute and hiring new ...
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Q: Would my partner become the sole owner of our home if I died? A: Not necessarily. If both your names are listed on the title document, with no mention ...
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Following last night’s announcement that Auckland is returning to alert level 3, we are preparing to work remotely from midday today. We will continue to be available for any legal ...
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Q: My neighbour has started repairing our boundary fence without my permission and I’m not happy about it. What are my rights? A: Under the Fencing Act 1978, your neighbour should ...
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Can your partner claim a share in your business if you break up? If your relationship falls under the Property (Relationships) Act*, they would likely be entitled to 50% of ...
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Picture this: after months of house hunting, you’ve finally purchased a property. It ticks all the boxes - structurally sound, good neighbourhood, nice garden and an ocean view. But fast ...
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Q: I agreed to a pay reduction during COVID-19. When will my pay return to normal? A: Your pay reduction should have been recorded in writing, detailing when your full ...
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Q: I need to express milk or feed my baby at work - what are my rights? A: Your employer must provide suitable breaks and facilities for you to express ...
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Did you know that a trial period isn’t valid unless it’s in writing? In New Zealand, it’s standard practice for new employees to be hired under a 90-day trial period ...
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Do you have a trust? If so, there are some significant impending changes to New Zealand trust law that you should be aware of. The Trusts Act 2019 comes into ...
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Q: Can you check whether you are a beneficiary of someone’s Will? A: No, you cannot find out whether you have been named as a beneficiary in someone’s Will until ...
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If you would like to make a new Will or amend your current one, there is no need to wait until the COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted. In fact, if ...
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The arrival of COVID-19 in New Zealand has presented a unique set of challenges for employers. Whether your employees are continuing to work remotely or are unable to work at ...
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Over the last few weeks, the Government has repeatedly promised “relief” for commercial tenants. It was widely hoped that this relief might come in the form of financial assistance, but ...
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Neil Murray retired from Armstrong Murray earlier this month after more than four decades at the firm, during which he ably and proudly represented his clients and their families – ...
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There is currently a lot of misinformation circulating in regards to the effect of the level 4 alert on property settlements. The Government has noted that moving house isn't an ...
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As New Zealand prepares for lockdown, commercial landlords and tenants will be wondering what rights they have if the tenant’s business is forced to close. The most commonly used form ...
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With New Zealand now preparing for a level 4 lockdown, our office will be closed as of 5pm today (Monday, 23 March). All meetings with our clients will take place via ...
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What happens if you die without a Will? Many people mistakenly believe that their assets would automatically pass to their partner or next of kin in this instance, but without ...
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What can grandparents do if they are denied access to their grandchildren? If you have attempted to resolve the situation through a calm discussion with the parents and have been ...
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When sick leave is taken by an employee, their employer is entitled to ask for proof of the illness or injury (typically a medical certificate from a doctor). If your ...
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Q: Do you have to share your inheritance with your spouse? A: No, you are not legally obliged to share your inheritance. However, if you wish to keep it separate ...
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Shared driveways are notorious for their ability to cause arguments between neighbours. Perhaps your neighbour is obstructing the driveway by leaving a parked car or rubbish bin on it or ...
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Q: Does your Will need to be updated when you get married or divorced? A: Yes, your Will should be updated in either of these circumstances. If you make a ...
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When does a relationship qualify as de facto? If you live with your partner, your relationship is legally considered a de facto relationship from a general perspective. However, the exact ...
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New Zealand employers are legally required to have a written employment agreement for each of their employees. The employer must keep a copy of each agreement and provide a copy ...
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Buying a house can be an incredibly exciting time and it’s easy to get carried away, signing on the dotted line and putting in an offer before you’ve had a ...
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If you pass away with unpaid bills, will your children inherit the debt? Any joint debts (for example, a credit card or mortgage held under two or more names) will ...
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Q: Can your employer force you to take annual leave if the business is closed over Christmas? A: Yes, your employer is entitled to tell you when to take leave, ...
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If you own a business that supplies goods or services prior to payment, you will no doubt have encountered a client or two who won’t pay during your time in ...
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Many people assume that they don’t need to think about making a Will until they are ill or elderly. In reality, this is not the case at all. There are ...
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Q: I want to make sure my child would be looked after by the right person if I died. How can I ensure this happens? A: The best way to ...
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Elder abuse, like family violence, is sadly a common occurrence in New Zealand. It is estimated that 70,000 elderly people in our country will experience some form of elder abuse ...
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Most people are aware that there is a significant difference between hiring an employee and a contractor. But is someone a contractor just because they’ve signed a contract for services ...
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What can you do if another business is using your brand name? If you’ve already protected your business name by registering it as a trade mark, your lawyer will generally ...
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Most of us would prefer to get along well with our neighbours, but the unfortunate reality is that there will be times when you find yourselves disagreeing. In our experience, ...
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On cold winter days like this, it’s hard not to think of the Kiwi families who are struggling to stay warm and cope financially with the cost of heating. We’re ...
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Q: I’d like to sell my house privately. What legal obligations should I be aware of? A: If you’d like to sell your property privately rather than using a real ...
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Q: My flatmate damaged his/her bedroom before moving out and we’ve only just seen the damage. Who is liable for the repair bill? A: Regardless of how the damage was caused, ...
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Buying a house together is one of the most significant milestones in any young couple’s relationship. During this exciting time, the idea of a relationship breakdown or death might be ...
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Job hunting? Before you accept that new job and hand in your notice, make sure you check whether there is a restraint of trade clause in your current employment contract ...
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Under the current health and safety legislation, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, almost everyone in a workplace or organisation has some degree of responsibility for health and ...
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As we grow older, keeping our independence is something that tends to weigh heavily on our mind. We value being able to go about our daily lives without feeling that ...
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As a commercial tenant, entering into a new lease can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. The terms of the lease agreement can have a considerable effect on the success ...
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We’re thrilled to announce that Andrew Reeder has been appointed as a partner at Armstrong Murray, effective from 1 February. Andrew began working at Armstrong Murray as a part-time law ...
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Relationship property is a complicated and ever-evolving area of the law. The key legislation in New Zealand, the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (‘the Act’), is currently under review and many ...
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In the face of record high property prices and tighter loan-to-value ratios imposed by the banks, it is becoming increasingly difficult for young Kiwis to buy their first home. As ...
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We’d like to welcome Emily Townsend to the Armstrong Murray team. Graduating from the University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts with First Class ...
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More often than not, a great deal of a business’s value is tied up in what is known as ‘goodwill’. Goodwill is similar to ‘reputation’ and often a business’s branding ...
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A personal grievance is, in essence, a claim brought against an employee’s current or former employer for unfair or unreasonable treatment. How does the personal grievance process work? Ideally, a ...
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“Where there’s a Will – there’s a relative!” Ricky Gervais Ricky is the master of the one-liner and is known for bringing humour to the most serious of topics, but ...
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Almost everyone works as an employee at some point in their lives. In an ideal world, every employee would receive a contract from their employer and have it reviewed by ...
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Whether you’re a landlord or a tenant, tenancy disputes can be costly, stressful and time-consuming. To avoid a dispute, it’s crucial to have a tenancy agreement and a solid understanding ...
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The GDPR comes into effect on May 25, 2018. But what does it mean for New Zealand businesses and how should you prepare? What is the GDPR? The General Data ...
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From 1 July 2018, we will be asking prospective and existing clients for more information than usual. This is because New Zealand has recently made changes to the Anti-Money Laundering ...
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If you’re thinking about buying your first home and have been a member of KiwiSaver for at least three years, you’ll know that you may be eligible to put your ...
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If you are an employer, you will be aware that the new government has announced major reforms to employment laws, including the significant rollback of laws brought in under the ...
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Whether you’re going into business with a friend or investing in an existing business, it’s vital for any company with multiple shareholders to have a Shareholders’ Agreement in place. A ...
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Do you have a document that needs to be notarised? Our Auckland Notary Public, Chris Davis, answers some commonly asked questions below. What is a notary public? In New Zealand, ...
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The property purchasing process can be daunting, particularly for first time home buyers, so we’ve created this handy list full of practical advice to guide you through the process. 1 ...
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The aim of a family trust is to protect the ownership of our assets, for the benefit of ourselves and our family members. For example, many business owners establish a ...
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Every adult should have a valid Will, regardless of their circumstances, but we often find that people don’t realise that they need one. Even if you don’t own significant assets ...
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An Enduring Power of Attorney is one of the most important documents for you to have in place once you are over the age of 18.  It’s best to get ...
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We’re thrilled to be a major sponsor of this year’s Beach Series which kicked off at Takapuna Beach today. Every Tuesday evening throughout summer, you’ll find us manning the gear tent and ...
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On Thursday afternoon the Armstrong Murray team headed along to take part in the 12th annual Takapuna Grammar School PTA Golf Day on the beautiful Waitemata Golf Course. While we didn’t win ...
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Our Practice Manager Desiree recently visited the local school on , a small island in the Haʻapai islands of Tonga. The Armstrong Murray team filled her suitcase with an assortment ...
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Neil, Chris and John are delighted to announce that Karen Stubbs has recently been appointed a partner.  Over the time that Karen has been with Armstrong Murray, she has developed ...
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ARMSTRONG MURRAY ARE PROUD WINNERS: EMPLOYER OF CHOICE, 10TH ANNUAL NZ LAW AWARDS November 2014 The team was responsible for a secret nomination as a way of publicly acknowledging their ...
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