The New Zealand legal system is a common law system, based on the English system of justice. As a result, New Zealand, like England, Australia, Canada and the USA, adopts an adversarial court process. What this means is that the Courts are reliant on the parties to produce evidence and argue in favour of a particular version of events. Based on this evidence and argument from counsel, the Court will make a decision as to which party is right and which is wrong.
It is an honour to be asked to be an independent trustee for a friend or family member. However this honour comes with significant risks. This article discusses those risks and how to minimise them.
This article provides an explanation of some of the commonly used terms in property law.
A High Court decision has highlighted the benefits of including an equitable mortgage in a supplier’s terms of trade.
Starting a new business can be an exciting time, and one in which, during the excitement, considerations of legal and structural issues are often overlooked. This often leads to costly and time-consuming problems. To help you minimise the risk of unintended or unforeseen consequences in the future, this article sets out some of the issues you should consider before starting a new business.
Unit title developments are an increasingly common form of property ownership in New Zealand. If you are considering purchasing a unit title property, it is important that you understand how unit titles operate. This article outlines some of the important issues you will need to consider.
Judging by some comments read on social media, there are widespread public misconceptions about what happens with your assets if you die without having a will.
This article explains what the term "paper road" means, how you can find out where a "paper road" is located, and provides some information on the upkeep of "paper roads". The term "stopping of a road" is also explained.
Arbitration is often the mandatory process for resolution of disputes in commercial contracts. This article reviews the arbitration process and the advantages and disadvantages of this method of dispute resolution.
What did people do before Facebook? The ability to check out what friends and acquaintances are doing, for some, has become part of everyday life. However, for others it has had unexpected and costly consequences. You would have possibly heard…