The reading of the will? This ain’t America!
There is no such thing as the “reading of the will” in New Zealand. When a person dies, the executor(s) typically meet with the law firm holding the will and discuss the administration process.
The executor(s) act on behalf the deceased person’s estate and are entitled to all of their confidential information including the will.
A copy of the will should be provided to the estate beneficiaries, so that they know what it says and can hold the executor(s) accountable to distribute the estate to the appropriate people. Potential claimants might be entitled to a copy of the will and usually this is provided if they indicate that they wish to make a claim.
If the deceased person owned real estate alone (or in shares with another owner), or an asset over the value of $15,000 (e.g. a bank account), an application needs to be made for what’s called Probate of the will is required. The Probate is required to formally change a property title into the executor’s name or to close the bank account and withdraw the proceeds. Probate of a will is a public record and can be searched by contacting the Probate Registry of the Wellington High Court.
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are general in nature and are not intended to serve as a substitute for legal advice on a specific matter. In the absence of such advice no responsibility is accepted by Bryce Williams Law Limited for reliance on any of the information provided in this article.