Helpful guides and information about probate, wills, and estate administration in New Zealand.
Can you do probate yourself in New Zealand? Yes — but mistakes delay the grant and can cost more to fix. Compare DIY vs professional probate preparation and decide what suits your estate.
Fixed-fee probate starts at $699 + GST with Simply Probate. Compare fixed-fee vs hourly-rate pricing for probate applications in New Zealand and see what you'll actually pay.
Comparing Public Trust and Simply Probate? Public Trust offers full estate administration. Simply Probate prepares the probate application for a fixed fee. Find out which suits your estate.
Named as executor in a will? Here is what you need to do — and how to renounce if you cannot act. Simply Probate prepares your probate application for $699 + GST.
Does jointly owned property need probate? Joint tenants: no. Tenants in common: yes. Find out which applies to your situation and what to do next.
Can you apply for probate online in New Zealand? The court filing is paper-based, but Simply Probate prepares your entire application online. Fixed fee. No office visits.
Can you contest a will in NZ? Learn the grounds, time limits, and process for challenging a will in New Zealand. Understand when you need a litigation lawyer.
No will? You need letters of administration, not probate. Simply Probate prepares your application for a fixed $699 + GST. Filed at Wellington High Court.
Everything Auckland residents need to know about probate in 2026. Costs, timeline, process, and how to get probate for Auckland estates without expensive lawyers.
Learn how assets are distributed when someone dies without a will in New Zealand, including the legal hierarchy and proportions for different family situations.
How much does probate cost in New Zealand? Court filing fee is $269. Lawyer fees range from $699 to $5,000+. Compare costs and see Simply Probate's fixed fee.
What probate costs, how long it takes, when you need it, and how to apply. Written by a NZ lawyer. Covers the full process from application to grant.
Short answer: not without legal authority. Banks freeze accounts on notification of death. Here's what executors and family members can do — and can't.
A comprehensive guide to distributing estate assets to beneficiaries in New Zealand, including timelines, legal requirements, and executor responsibilities.
Understand what happens when someone dies without a will in New Zealand, including intestacy distribution rules, who can apply for Letters of Administration, and next of kin hierarchy.
How to complete Forms PR1 and PR2 for your High Court probate application. Covers required documents, affidavit requirements, and filing at the registry.
The High Court typically grants probate within 2 weeks of receiving a compliant application. The real variable is preparation time. Here's the full timeline.
There's no legal requirement to wait exactly 6 months, but most executors do — and for good reason. Here's when you can distribute earlier and when you can't.
No statutory probate threshold in NZ — but banks have their own limits ($15K–$30K). Find out when probate is and is not required, and what to do either way.
Learn about what makes a will valid in New Zealand, common issues that can invalidate a will, and how to ensure your will meets legal requirements.
A comprehensive guide to understanding who inherits assets when someone dies without a will in New Zealand, including the legal hierarchy and distribution rules.
Our team of probate experts can answer your specific questions about the probate process in New Zealand.