Before anything can be distributed, we need a complete picture of what is in the estate. This means identifying all assets, all debts, and understanding who is entitled to inherit.
What is in the estate?
The estate includes everything the deceased owned personally. Common assets include:
The family home, investment properties, holiday homes
Savings, term deposits, everyday accounts
Shares, managed funds, bonds
Vehicles, jewellery, art, furniture
What is NOT in the estate?
Some assets pass outside the will entirely:
- Joint property: Goes to the surviving owner automatically
- Trust assets
- Life insurance: With nominated beneficiaries, goes directly to them
Debts and liabilities
The estate is also responsible for the deceased's debts. These must be paid before assets can be distributed. Common debts include:
- Mortgage and other loans
- Credit cards
- Outstanding bills (power, rates, phone)
- Funeral costs
- Outstanding tax
We will help you identify and value all estate assets and liabilities. Call us on 06 835 7394.
How Carlile Dowling helps at this stage
- - Provide a comprehensive asset checklist
- - Write to banks, KiwiSaver providers, and other institutions on your behalf
- - Explain inheritance under the will, or under intestacy rules if there is no will
- - Identify potential complications early
We can help you identify what is involved
Tracing assets can be time-consuming. We write to institutions, gather information, and build the picture for you.