What a property attorney does
Your property attorney has broad powers to manage your financial affairs. This includes:
- Operating your bank accounts and paying your bills
- Managing your investments and KiwiSaver
- Buying, selling, or managing property
- Dealing with government agencies like IRD and WINZ
- Making decisions about your business if you have one
Choosing the right person
Look for someone who is:
Good with money and paperwork
Will always act in your best interests
Has time to manage your affairs properly
Prepared to take on the responsibility
"Always talk to your chosen attorney before naming them. Being a property attorney is a significant responsibility, and they need to understand what's involved."
The "choosing between children" question
Many parents worry about choosing one child over another. Options include:
- - Appointing children jointly (requires agreement on decisions)
- - Appointing one with instruction to consult siblings
- - Appointing children for different roles (property vs personal care)
- - Using a professional attorney to avoid family tension
There's no wrong answer. What matters is choosing someone who'll act in your interests.
Joint or successor attorneys
You can appoint more than one attorney. Options include:
- 1 Joint attorneys: Two people who must act together on all decisions
- 2 Joint and several: Two people who can act together or independently
- 3 Successor: A backup if your first choice can't act
We'll help you decide what's right for your situation. Call us on 06 835 7394.
What we do at this stage
We help you consider the practical factors in choosing a property attorney and explain how joint or successor attorneys work. If you are unsure, we can discuss your specific situation.