Lighthouse Legal

29/05/2026

Did you know the beneficiaries of your trust should be given information about the trust?

The people who can benefit from the trust - called the 'beneficiaries' - generally need to be given information about the trust, including the fact they are a beneficiary.

It's incredibly important to check who the beneficiaries of the trust are, which will be set out in your Trust Deed. Sometimes, it's not who you expect!

If you need help figuring out who the beneficiaries are, understanding what information to provide or dealing with unexpected beneficiaries, we are here to help.

27/05/2026

It’s Wellbeing Wednesday at Lighthouse and the team is coming together for a full day of learning, growth, and professional development under our theme: “The Future’s So Bright” 😎

Swag boxes? Check.

Shades? Check.

Brains switched on and ready? Absolutely.

We’re diving into everything from:

⚖️ Contracting Out Agreements

🤖 AI and the future of legal practice

🧠 Working with client emotion

🏡 Relationship Property developments

💬 Building strong client engagement

…all with a healthy dose of fun, connection, and sparkles along the way!

25/05/2026

It’s the conversation almost every family avoids… until suddenly they can’t.

Talking about death, illness, ageing, finances, wills, or “what happens if…” can feel uncomfortable — but avoiding those conversations can leave families facing stress, confusion, conflict, and expensive legal issues later on.

A couple of the key things people overlook?
- Enduring Powers of Attorney that set out what is to happen if you become unable to make decisions about your property and care for yourself
- having an "In Case Of Folder" with all the important information your loved ones may need in an emergency or after your death.

As this article points out, having the difficult conversations — and getting the right documents sorted — is one of the most thoughtful things you can do for your family. 💛

If you’ve been meaning to “get around to it”, this is your sign. Our estate planning specialist, Sarah Simpson-Thomas, is available for a free initial chat to help you understand your options and get things properly in place. You can easily schedule your chat with her at 👉 www.lighthouselegal.co.nz/sarah

www.stuff.co.nz/money/360975658/conversation-we-all-avoid-and-why-it-could-cost-your-family

Some conversations need to happen before it’s too late.

22/05/2026

Did you know that your Will doesn't cover your trust?

Your Will is super important, and sets out what happens with your personally-owned assets after you die. But it doesn't cover anything that is held in your family trust.

Trusts can carry on after your lifetime, and need separate planning. The good news is there are simple options, and ways to make sure that both your Will and trust work together.

If you need help with your Will and trust planning, or understanding the difference between them, we're always happy to help.

20/05/2026

From the Scottish Highlands to the Southern Alps - Lighthouse Director Julie McClain carries a whole lot of heart (and a bit of Scottish grit) with her!

Julie brings warmth, straight-talking honesty, and a genuine ability to connect with people at what are often some of life’s toughest moments.

A trained Collaborative lawyer and certified Divorce Coach, Julie is passionate about helping families resolve matters through cooperation, early intervention, and practical, human-focused solutions — not unnecessary conflict.

Having been through her own separation and divorce, she understands first-hand what clients are navigating, and brings real empathy (alongside clarity and humour) to her work.

Outside the office, Julie is always on the move — skiing, travelling, running after her son… and improving her French while never saying no to a good instant coffee!

We’re lucky to have her on the Lighthouse Legal team. Learn more about Julie over at https://www.lighthouselegal.co.nz/julie-profile-page and while you're there, you can book an initial free 15-minute consultation with her.

19/05/2026

“I’m a trustee… but I’m not really sure what I should be doing!”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — Being a trustee often starts with good intentions… and quickly can turn into either:
• overthinking every decision, or
• signing things off and hoping it’s all fine (while quietly wondering what you’ve actually agreed to)

Neither feels great.

Our latest blog by Lighthouse's Trust Consultant, Sarah Simpson-Thomas, breaks down why the first step for trustees isn’t memorising legal rules — it’s stepping back, understanding the role, and building confidence in the bigger picture before getting into the detail.

If you’re a trustee and feeling unsure, this is a really helpful place to start. Even more helpful is a free initial chat with Sarah which you can book here: [email protected]/s/7zWlsYvIHESUbftolkStmw2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/s/7zWlsYvIHESUbftolkStmw2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true

https://www.lighthouselegal.co.nz/post/i-m-a-trustee-but-i-m-not-really-sure-what-i-should-be-doing

While it’s true that trustees have legal duties, starting with the technical details can be like trying to decorate a cake before you’ve even baked it. There’s nothing solid for the detail to stick to — and it quickly becomes messy and overwhelming. Before diving into the legal side, it help...

15/05/2026

Whether you are seeking clarity and advice in a family legal matter, with the establishment or management of a Trust, with writing your Will and Enduring Powers of Attorney, or with the purchase of a property — we're here to help.

☎️ Book a no-obligation 15-minute phone call with one of our lawyers today, and take the first step in a clearer direction.

https://www.lighthouselegal.co.nz/book-session

14/05/2026

The Supreme Court has recently warned self-represented litigants about the risks of relying on AI-generated content in court filings, including “hallucinated” cases and incorrect citations. In serious cases, this can lead to contempt proceedings.

With more people representing themselves and using AI tools, the risk of unintended errors is growing. But in court, accuracy matters — every authority and citation must be real and correctly referenced.

If you’re self-representing, getting the right guidance can make all the difference. Even well-intentioned mistakes can have serious consequences in legal proceedings.

At Lighthouse Legal, our Guided Resolution service is designed to support self-represented litigants who want to run their matter but need help from time to time navigating the process safely and effectively.

If you’re unsure about your next steps, or want support to avoid costly mistakes, book a free initial consult with us to learn how we can assist you.

NZ Supreme Court warns litigants they may face contempt charges for citing fake AI-generated legal authorities in court submissions.

13/05/2026

“We do law differently.” You hear it a lot in this industry.
But working at Lighthouse Legal, you quickly realise — this place actually means it. As a lawyer, that changes everything.

Doing law differently here isn’t about ticking KPIs or chasing billable hours at all costs. It’s about being trusted to focus on what really matters — delivering meaningful outcomes for real people.

It's about flexibility — in how we work, how we structure our days, and how we show up for our clients and our own lives.

It's about connection — we’re not removed from our clients. We value listening. We Collaborate alongside our clients and colleagues, which makes the work feel purposeful, not transactional.

It's about trust — no micromanaging, no one-size-fits-all approach. Just the space to do good work, in a way that actually works.

It's about creativity and innovation — not only have we turned the traditional firm model on its head for the benefit of our team, we bring that same creativity to finding solutions that genuinely fit each client's needs

Most importantly, it's about remembering why we became lawyers in the first place. To support and guide people through the messiness of life to help them thrive.

A lot of firms say they do law differently.
Here, you feel it — in the culture, in the clients, and in the way we get to practise every day. And that’s why we love working here.

Want to work differently too? Give Selina or Julie a call for a confidential chat to learn more about what joining our team looks like.

12/05/2026

"How was I supposed to know living together could mean I’m basically treated as married?”

It’s a question we hear a lot.

In New Zealand, de facto couples can very quickly find themselves caught by relationship property laws — generally after 3 years together (or sooner if you have a child together).

As Lighthouse Director Julie McClain writes in this week’s blog: “For many couples that three-year mark arrives surprisingly quickly, particularly when you’ve spent half of it assembling flatpack furniture together and referring to the dog as your child…” 🐶🛠️

In this week’s blog, Julie unpacks the surprisingly romantic idea of planning ahead with a Contracting Out Agreement — what it is, how it works, and why it can save a whole lot of stress later on.

Definitely worth a read if you’re in a de facto relationship or be sure to share it with that friend, colleague or family member who is in one!

A Contracting Out Agreement is essentially a legal agreement between a couple that says: “We want to decide for ourselves how our property will be treated, rather than relying entirely on the default rules under the Property (Relationships) Act.” It allows couples to “contract out” of the st...