Your executor needs to be an adult (20 years or older) and of sound mind. It's important to choose someone you trust and has some understanding of financial matters. It is recommended to ask your executor if they are willing to take on that responsibility before appointing them. Most people appoint their spouse/partner in the first instance and then their children if they are unable.

Yes which means you can appoint your spouse or children even though they may be beneficiaries (receiving money/assets) of your Will.

An executor administers your estate. They are responsible for bringing in all the assets of the estate, paying all the debts and then distributing the estate in accordance with your Will.

An executor doesn't get paid for the work they do as an executor (unless your Will stipulates that). When the executor is a friend who is not a beneficiary of the Will, some people give a small gift of money as a thank you for their hard work.

A back-up Executor will take over responsibility for administering your estate if your first Executor(s) are unable or unwilling.

Yes, which means you can appoint your children as back-up Executor even though they may be beneficiaries (receiving money/assets) of your Will.

A guardian will be responsible for your children's day to day care. It is worth noting that the guardian will not be legally authorised without a court order. However, it is still good to appoint a guardian in your Will so the court knows your wishes.

The guardian must be an adult (over 20 years) and of sound mind.

If you would like to leave funds to cover your pet's expenses, you may wish to leave a gift to your pet's care-taker.

You can't give away:

1. Jointly held property such as a house or an insurance policy that is in joint names. This will automatically go to the surviving owner and cannot be left in your Will. If you want to leave your share of your house to someone specifically, you will need to make sure the title is registered as tenants in common. If you want to leave your life insurance policy to someone specific, you will need to make sure that the policy is in your sole name (not held jointly or in someone else's name).
2. Proceeds of insurance that already has beneficiaries.
3. Trust assets. If your house (and any other Trust asset) is in a Trust, then it does not belong to you, it belongs to the Trust. As such, you can't deal with your Trust assets as part of your Estate. You will need to a separate document called a Memorandum of Wishes for your Trust assets. It is recommended to see your lawyer regarding your Trust wishes.

After 3 years, your spouse or de facto partner is entitled to ½ share of your relationship property. If you leave your spouse or de facto partner less than ½ your assets then they could bring a relationship property claim against your estate.

An interest in Maori land can be left to:

• Your spouse or de facto partner;
• Your children;
• Your direct relatives;
• Members of the hapu associated with the land;
• Your whangai relatives; and
• Trustees of anyone listed above.

Only if your first choice dies before you.
Where can I find a charity's registration number?
If the charity is a registered charity then you will usually find this number on their promotional material or search for it on the Charities Services Register. If you have trouble finding it, we suggest giving the charity a call. The charity's registration number is very important to ensure your gift goes to the right charity.

If the charity is a registered charity then you will usually find this number on their promotional material or search for it on the Charities Services Register. If you have trouble finding it, we suggest giving the charity a call. The charity's registration number is very important to ensure your gift goes to the right charity.

After 3 years, your spouse or de facto partner is entitled to ½ share of your relationship property. If you leave your spouse or de facto partner less than ½ your assets then they could bring a relationship property claim against your estate. If you want to leave less then 50% to your spouse or de facto partner, you may wish to consider whether a Pre-Nup is right for you.

Only if your first choice dies before you.

If you have chosen your child as your first choice and they die before you, then their children will receive the share that their parent would have otherwise taken in equal shares. If your first choice is not your child and they die before you, then their share will go to the other beneficiaries proportionately.

If the charity is a registered charity then you will usually find this number on their promotional material or search for it on the Charities Services Register. If you have trouble finding it, we suggest giving the charity a call. The charity's registration number is very important to ensure your gift goes to the right charity.

Your Executor(s) will hold the property on trust until the person reaches the chosen age.