Money, Legal, and Family Decision Checklist
For: Individuals preparing legal and financial documents for future stages of life.
Guide review recorded: 2026-06-12. This is the saved guide review date; later source access dates do not mean the guide was reviewed again.
Short Summary
Set up your legal, financial, and family affairs early so decisions can be made smoothly, even in a crisis.
Steps & Guidance
- 1
Establish Enduring Powers of Attorney (EPA)
Appoint trusted attorneys for both Property and Personal Care & Welfare before any capacity loss.
- 2
Create or Update Your Will
Ensure your assets will be distributed according to your wishes, and document an Advance Care Plan for medical preferences.
- 3
Verify Retirement Entitlements
Confirm your eligibility for NZ Superannuation and ensure your SuperGold Card is active for transport and shopping discounts.
- 4
Check Residential Care Subsidy Thresholds
Assess your asset and income levels against the Work and Income thresholds to plan for potential care costs.
- 5
Hold a Structured Family Meeting
Outline who will manage key responsibilities (attorneys, executors, support roles) to prevent misunderstandings.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Assuming a spouse or child has automatic legal rights to manage assets without an EPA.
- Not updating wills when major family changes occur.
Documents & Info to Prepare
- Detailed list of assets and liabilities.
- Full names and contact details of chosen attorneys/executors.
Key Contacts
Recorded Evidence & Documents
These are the guide's saved evidence links. They may include official guidance, historical records, community sources or research captures. Recorded class and source dates do not establish current entitlement or independently verified guidance.
Work and Income - Web Capture - Accommodation Supplement
Source: Work and Income | Type: MD
Recorded evidence class: Official guidance
Published: Undated | Accessed: 8 October 2026
Recorded evidence boundary: Undated living guidance; source updated 24 July 2026 and independently checked 8 October 2026. Original library capture was June 2026. Amounts are maxima, not assured payments; individual eligibility requires Work and Income assessment.
Work and Income - Web Capture - Residential Care Subsidy
Source: Work and Income | Type: MD
Recorded evidence class: Official guidance
Published: Undated | Accessed: 8 October 2026
Recorded evidence boundary: Undated living guidance; source update shown as 4 August 2026. Thresholds and allowances are the figures visible on 8 October 2026, not a guarantee of eligibility.
Office for Seniors — Enduring Power of Attorney: two-page A4 information leaflet, March 2025
Source: Office for Seniors — Te Tari Kaumātua | Type: PDF
Recorded evidence class: Official guidance
Published: March 2025 | Accessed: June 2026
Recorded evidence boundary: March 2025 introductory leaflet, two physical pages, not a five-page comprehensive legal guide, prescribed form package or standard explanation. Its simplified-language disclaimer defers to relevant legislation. Source identity and current publisher-byte match are verified, but this review does not certify every legal proposition, an individual EPA’s validity, capacity or activation, or current discounts/fees. The prior 2024-named source URL is broken; the preserved 2025 PDF filename, original hash and June 2026 access label remain unchanged. Exact first-release day is unknown; footer edition, technical production, web update and evidence-review dates are separate.
Related Help Guides
Future Planning: EPAs, Wills, and Palliative Care
Anyone wishing to document their future care and estate preferences.
Guide review recorded: 2026-10-10
Navigating Funding, Pensions, and Subsidies
Older New Zealanders requiring financial assistance for housing or care.
Guide review recorded: 2026-10-10