Known as the largest provider of online Wills throughout the country, Footprint NZ recently announced that all Footprint customers now gain access to exclusive discounts on other estate planning services through their relationship with Perpetual Guardian—one of New Zealand’s most credible trustee companies.
This new “Special Offers” feature includes access to exclusive pricing on Perpetual Guardian’s Trust and Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) services.
According to Footprint—Wills, Trusts, and EPA’s are all essential components of estate planning that help protect a person’s assets and their whānau.
The basic purpose of a Will is to settle your estate, but it also allows you to care for your family once you are gone, e.g., you can name a guardian for your children (or fur babies), express your funeral wishes, leave behind meaningful gifts—and even leave bequeaths to people and/or charities close to your heart.
An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives someone of your choosing the ability to act on your behalf. There are two types of EPA’s to be aware of: a property EPA and a personal care and welfare EPA. A property EPA can come into effect if you are unavailable to make decisions and are happy to leave the decision-making to someone else. In contrast, a personal health and welfare EPA only comes into effect if you become incapable of making decisions for yourself.
You can appoint the same person for both, but the authority for each must be appointed separately. Setting up an attorney must also be done when you are still mentally stable and sound of mind. It’s important to have an EPA because, without one, no one else can deal with your property or financial matters without a court order—which can be very costly and time-consuming. In addition, the court will have to appoint an attorney for you on your behalf and the chosen person may not be the same person you would have wanted.
A family trust is a great way to protect your estate for the benefit of your family after you are gone. Sometimes, people set up a trust to benefit from no longer owning specific assets. For example, to protect yourself from legal claims or risks associated with business failures. A trust can also be used to set aside money for children or grandchildren or to ensure that property passes down to future generations instead of partners.
A trust deed needs to be outlined and carefully written—preferably by a professional like Perpetual Guardian.
Each of these elements is an essential part of estate planning, and luckily, through the combined professional services of Footprint NZ and Perpetual Guardian, preparing for a better, safer future for you and your whānau has never been easier or more affordable.
If you’re interested in making an online Will in New Zealand with Footprint and gaining access to the special offers available through their sister company, Perpetual Guardian, contact the company today at https://www.myfootprint.co.nz/
