Kiwilaw* - 'yield to principle, not to pressure'

Probate, wills, estate administration, reseal grants, transmission to executors

Kiwilaw – more information here!

Even in lockdown, Kiwilaw can save you money and make it easier to manage your loved one’s estate

Yes, Kiwilaw really can help you get probate for just $490 (plus $200 High Court fee). That’s if there’s a valid will and the executor/s are available to make the application.

If there’s no will, or no executors, it gets a bit more complicated. In that case, you will need ‘letters of administration’ (rather than ‘probate) and it usually costs a bit more.

This page links you to more information or, if you want to start your probate application now, it will take you straight there!

Cheryl Simes – Kiwilaw’s founder, director, and lawyer – works from anywhere (including this nook in the local library) – and lives in Oxford, North Canterbury, where she has her home office) – COVID lockdown? She won’t be in the library, she’ll be working at home. Virtually no other disruption, except for possible delays in courier services because ‘essential services’ get priority access to couriers. So please, keep calm and carry on with that enquiry you were wondering about…. (updated 22 August 2021)

It’s your decision
where to start

‘You need a better landing page,’ the advisers say.  Apparently Kiwilaw’s website is too complicated and may put people off.

Please don’t be put off.

If we tell you too much, it seems too hard. 

If we don’t tell you enough, we miss something that can really cause difficulties – because the law isn’t always simple.

So this page is intended to bridge the gap between the ad you have just seen and the information you need next.

Get more details

 

Want a full explanation of the online service Kiwilaw offers nationwide?

 

Or need to know more about what ‘probate’ is and what ‘letters of administration’ are?

 

Click here to read more

Screening form

Want to check for any complications that may cost a bit more than our standard fee? Not sure what is involved? 

 

For our no-obligation, free, screening form – click here

Probate now, please!

Are you the executor/s of a valid will? Do you have the original will (or know you can get it)? Are you confident there are no complications?

 

Skip the initial screening form, and start the main online interview here.

Want a copy of a will?

We have an article that tells you how to get a copy of a will.

 

Read it here.

Why should I trust you?

I wouldn’t trust an online lawyer, either – not on the basis of an ad or two and a landing page, anyway…

Read testimonials here.

More about Cheryl’s background – here.

Read Cheryl’s views about what other lawyers charge – here.

 

How do I ‘administer the estate’?

Whoa! One step at a time!

There are many tools and professionals that can help you.

 

Download our free 1-page outline here.

Buy our 40-page Guide here.

Check out other resources here.

Start at the beginning here.

‘You can use Kiwilaw without fear. You start by answering a series of simple questions online. The documents then turn up with easy to follow instructions on what to sign and how to get them witnessed etc. It’s really straightforward.’ – Paul Barnes, Auckland (Feb 2019)

Paul BarnesPaul BarnesAuckland client (Feb 2019)

‘Normally your clients’ documents come in perfectly completed.’

High Court deputy registrar, June 2021

Name withheldName withheldHigh Court deputy registrar

Sick of paying expensive lawyer fees and are in the process of applying for PROBATE or Letters of Administration? I recommend you give Kiwilaw a call.
 
Quarter of the price in legal fees, than many other Lawyers.
 
So if you are willing to do the work yourself and complete the required documents yourself you save heaps.
 
Cheryl Simes from Kiwilaw has been very helpful in putting this process together with us.
 
Sent an email to them one day, got a prompt reply, Kiwilaw then sent me another email with a step by step interview process, which was very easy to follow, then upon completion gave me the information and the right documentation required in order to start the process of Self-representation for application for Probate.
 
Kiwilaw’s step by step very informative online process is highly recommended.

Meralda WaltersMeralda WaltersFacebook comment (23 May 2021)

After my husband passed away in November 2020, I found out that I needed Probate in order to claim his insurance policy and sell his shares.

I contacted the law firm we had dealt with to get our E.P.O.A.’s and was quoted $4000-5000 in order to get it done.

I felt that this was a bit excessive so decided to check online what other lawyers were charging to do this service.

I found Kiwilaw’s website and decided to give them a try.

I filled out the questions asked, paid my $490, and received in the post a complete set of instructions on what to do with the various bits of paperwork involved.

I did this, included proof of the $200 payment to the High Court in Wellington, and sent it away by courier.

I posted it 5th Jan’21 and received it back, all signed, 22nd Jan’21.

I feel that this is an excellent service and would recommend it to anyone who is willing to do the secretarial work themselves at what I think is a very reasonable cost.

Liz (Auckland)Liz (Auckland)January 2021

Read more Kiwilaw testimonials – https://kiwilaw.co.nz/grateful-clients/

Kiwilaw Probate and Estates LtdKiwilaw Probate and Estates Ltd

Start here – no-obligation screening form

Initial information - Step 1 of 8

Take your time, there's no rush

Yes, this form is more complicated than a standard online 'contact form'.

That's because we want to provide full legal guidance, which requires careful consideration of numerous different facts.

We start by asking whether there has already been any type of 'grant of administration' in your loved one's estate. The answer is almost always 'no'. (It would be 'yes' if, for instance, probate had been granted in Australia, or letters of administration had been granted 20 years ago and the administrator had died before completing the job.) It's important to get this right - the wrong answer sends everyone off on the wrong track!

We then ask whether there's a will - including anything that is an invalid will.

A valid will includes a duly signed and witnessed will of which you can only find a copy. (There's a separate question about whether the original will is available.)

If there's a valid will, we ask about executors and whether they are available, and other factors that can cause complications.

We check that a grant of administration is definitely needed - we don't want to waste our time or your money.

If there's no valid will, we ask about your loved one's relationships and surviving family members, because that determines who can be the applicant/s. We ask about the value of the estate because that changes the options. We ask about specific procedural steps that may or may not have been taken. We check a couple of other points that can cause complications.

We ask about your loved one's death, to check for factors that could require additional work (and fees).

We ask you to check a final list of issues that may cause complications if they apply in your loved one's case.

At the end of each short page, click 'NEXT' to continue. You can also save (and resume later).

If the answers don't fit your situation, there's a chance to add information at the end.

Finally, before you submit, you can review your answers.

It covers the same material as a phone call, but in less time and with more safeguards.

Let's start....

 

We need your email address so we can reply to you. We don't add you to any mailing lists. We don't collect email addresses for marketing purposes.
For screening and enquiry purposes, this does not have to be their full name. However, if you decide to go ahead, we will then need their full name.
The answer will normally be no. It would be yes if, for example, the person died some time ago, their executor obtained probate, and the executor has since died, without completing the administration of the estate. It will also be yes if a grant of administration has been made overseas.