The growth of the retirement village industry is a defining feature of lifestyle for the senior group in the 21st century. Many elderly people view moving into a retirement village unit as a safe, secure and convenient way of life. However the financial and opportunity costs involved in entering into a retirement village need to be carefully considered.
“Nothing endures but change”
So said Heraclitus some 2500 years ago, and his observation still rings true today. A relationship property agreement reflects a snapshot of your and your partner’s circumstances at the time it was signed. The recent case of Clayton v Clayton [2015] NZSC 30 sharply illustrates the need to consistently review and update your agreement.
When a couple separates, it may be necessary for one party to seek temporary financial assistance from the other, in the form of maintenance payments. However, in order to obtain an order for maintenance an applicant must satisfy the Court that one of the following grounds has caused a real and substantial lack of self-sufficiency:
If you are living with a partner or a family member, or have a close relationship with someone in the household, and you are subjected to violence, you may be able to get a protection order on the grounds of domestic violence. These are some questions we are often asked about these situations.
Paternity issues can create stress and hard feelings if not dealt with promptly and definitively - not just for the parents concerned, but also for the child. Sometimes that means lawyers and the Family Court must be involved.
Andrew met Sally at a pub in town last August. Sally is from England and was working as a waitress part time. Andrew and Sally began a casual relationship which lasted only a few months. Soon after the relationship ended Sally discovered she was pregnant. She informed Andrew and throughout the pregnancy they kept in touch. They even attempted a reconciliation, but it was short lived. When their baby Annabelle was born, Sally allowed Andrew to visit and spend time with her on a few occasions. Over that time, he grew exceedingly fond of Annabelle but a month or so later all contact ceased and Sally would not take Andrew's calls. Andrew suspected that Sally did not want him in Annabelle's life and that she probably wished to return to England with Annabelle in the future, without having to seek consent from him. Andrew obtained a copy of Annabelle's birth certificate, only to find he was not recorded as the father. Unsure of what to do to protect his legal position with respect to his daughter, Andrew sought our advice.
Paul and Jane have been married for four years and have a young family. Paul met Jane on a holiday in Australia. Six months later Jane moved to New Zealand and they married soon after. They were blessed with two children - Sam and Jessica - and life was great for a while, until Paul started working longer hours. Coming home tired and irritable, he did very little to help Jane with the children and it wasn't long before he told Jane he was leaving her for another woman. Heartbroken and desperate Jane decided to move Sam and Jessica to Australia so they could be with her family. When she told Paul about her plans, he was furious and said she could leave but the children would have to stay in New Zealand with him and his new partner.
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