Managing Family Trusts.

Why Trust Management Matters for Families and Trustees

Family trusts can help protect your assets, support loved ones, and manage succession planning. But a trust is only as effective as the way it is run. Trustees have legal responsibilities, and beneficiaries have rights that must be followed.

Without proper management, even well set up trusts can lead to conflict or compliance issues. Legal advice helps you meet your obligations and ensure the trust continues to serve its purpose.

What We Help With

We assist with:

• Day-to-day trust administration and decision-making

• Reviewing trust deeds and updating trustee appointments

• Managing gifting, distributions, and record-keeping

• Restructuring or winding up trusts when appropriate

• Supporting trustees through uncertainty or disagreement

Our focus is to make things clear and help you manage the trust with confidence.

Support That Fits Your Trust and Your Family

Whether you are stepping into a trustee role for the first time or managing a trust that has been in place for years, we explain your options in plain language. We tailor our advice to reflect your trust’s purpose and your family’s needs.

Our role is to reduce complexity and help you make informed, practical decisions.

Where We Work

Our trust law team is based in Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Masterton. We support trustees and families throughout New Zealand with clear advice on trust management, obligations, and future planning.

Questions We Often Get Asked About Managing a Family Trust

What does a trustee need to do?

Trustees must act in the best interests of the beneficiaries and manage the trust responsibly. That includes keeping good records, making fair decisions, and following the trust deed. We explain what the law expects and help you meet your responsibilities confidently.

Can we update the trustees or change how the trust works?

Yes, but only if the trust deed allows it. We review the document, explain what is possible, and prepare the right paperwork to make changes properly and legally.

Do we need to keep formal records?

Yes. Accurate records help avoid confusion and protect the trustees. This includes decisions, meetings, distributions, and communication. We help you put the right systems in place.

What if trustees cannot agree on what to do?

Disagreements happen. We guide you through the legal decision-making process and help resolve issues in a way that protects the trust and supports respectful communication.

How do we know if the trust is still the right structure?

If the trust no longer meets your needs or creates unnecessary risk, it may be worth reviewing. We assess whether a restructure or wind-up is appropriate and explain the options clearly.