Under New Zealand law, if an unmarried de facto partner dies without leaving a valid will, their surviving partner inherits their ‘personal chattels’ and the first $155,000 of what else they left. (Children and parents get a share of anything above $155,000. If the de facto partner was also still married to someone else, the surviving spouse and the surviving de facto partner share that $155,000 plus the over-$155,000 entitlement.)
Are you still the ‘surviving partner’ if you were living apart?
‘My son died suddenly. Can his Kiwisaver go to his children?’
I am so sorry.
There are too many of these cases.
They are usually males. They drive too fast, or do something stupid, or are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or deliberately end their lives.
Usually they don’t leave a will.
[Read more…] about ‘My son died suddenly. Can his Kiwisaver go to his children?’