Family Law, Estates, and Welfare
Legal Services in Dunedin
Family Law
Divorce & Separation
Guidance through the legal and practical steps of dissolution of marriage, including preparation of documents, negotiation of terms, and representation in contested matters. Emphasis on cost‑effective solutions, thorough preparation, and minimising conflict wherever possible.
Relationship Property
Advice and representation in relationship property disputes, including division of assets, contributions, trusts, valuations, and post‑separation arrangements. Work includes drafting and reviewing contracting‑out agreements, negotiating settlements, and litigating complex property issues when required.
Parenting & Guardianship
Assistance with parenting orders, day‑to‑day care, contact arrangements, guardianship disputes, relocation issues, and urgent applications. Representation includes both negotiation and court advocacy, ensuring children’s best interests remain central.
Domestic Violence & Protection Orders
Representation in protection order applications, defended hearings, and related family violence matters. Clients receive calm, strategic support through urgent and sensitive situations, with a focus on safety and clear next steps.
Estates and Welfare
Estate Disputes
Estate disputes often arise during emotionally difficult times, and the focus is on resolving issues with clarity, fairness, and strong legal grounding. Work includes challenges to wills, disputes over estate administration, claims under the Family Protection Act, Testamentary Promises Act, and disputes involving executors, trustees, and beneficiaries. Representation covers negotiation, mediation, and litigation in the Family Court, High Court, and through alternative dispute resolution processes. Clients receive support with assessing entitlements, addressing concerns about undue influence or capacity, resolving conflicts between beneficiaries, and ensuring estates are administered lawfully and transparently. Services extend across Dunedin, Mosgiel, Otago, and Southland, with a focus on efficient, cost‑effective strategies that protect family relationships where possible while advancing your legal rights.
PPPR Act Applications and Welfare Guardianship
PPPR applications are used when a person lacks capacity due to age, illness, disability, or cognitive decline. Common matters include:
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Welfare Guardian Applications — Appointing someone to make decisions about personal care, living arrangements, medical treatment, and day‑to‑day welfare.
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Property Manager or Property Administrator Applications — Managing finances, assets, debts, and property decisions on behalf of the person.
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Orders for Personal Care and Welfare — Court directions about where a person should live, what support they need, and how decisions should be made.
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Capacity Assessments and Medical Evidence — Independent reports confirming whether the person can make decisions for themselves.
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Disputes Between Family Members — Conflicts over who should be appointed, how decisions should be made, or concerns about misuse of authority.
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Review and Variation of Existing Orders — Updating or challenging existing PPPR orders when circumstances change.
These matters often involve complex family dynamics, medical evidence, and urgent decisions about a vulnerable person’s wellbeing.
