Legal Project Management Plan & Checklist
Purpose of this Guide: Use this plan when acting for the executor or administrator of a New Zealand deceased estate that is facing a claim under the Family Protection Act 1955. The plan helps the lawyer guide the executor through their statutory duties, manage the distribution stand-down period, notify potential claimants, and defend the estate in court or at mediation.
Jurisdiction: High Court of New Zealand, operating under a national jurisdiction. This plan applies nationwide, as there is no division between states. The parent plan covers the general executor defence process, while forks address the strategic choice between active defence and neutral assistance.
The Process at a Glance: First, identify all potential family claimants and determine the value of the estate assets and debts. Seal the grant of administration in the Wellington registry and immediately apply a distribution lock on accounts. Notify potential claimants about the estate administration to satisfy fiduciary duties. If a claim is made, receive the statement of claim, review the claimant's financial disclosure, and file a statement of defence. Attend mediation to seek a settlement. If mediation fails, assist the court neutrally or actively defend the estate at trial before distributing the remaining assets.
Use this fork when the executor wishes to adopt a neutral stance and seek directions from the court. This approach is standard when there is a dispute between competing beneficiaries and the executor wishes to remain neutral, placing all facts before the court and leaving the active dispute to the beneficiaries. This fork guides the practitioner through preparing neutral affidavits and seeking directions.
Use this fork when the executor wishes to actively defend the estate against the claim. This approach is taken when the claimant's claim lacks merit or is excessive, and the executor must protect the interests of the beneficiaries named in the will. This fork guides the practitioner through preparing the defence, gathering opposing evidence, and arguing the case.
Key Legislation and Case Law: Governed by the Family Protection Act 1955 (specifically section 11A which codifies the administrator's duty to assist the court) and section 47 of the Administration Act 1969. Case law includes Sherborne Estate (No 2): Vanvalen v Neaves [2005] NSWSC 1003 and New Zealand authorities regarding the executor's duty to remain neutral unless actively protecting beneficiaries. The six-month stand-down period and the three-month notice lapsing rules are governed by sections 47 and 48 of the Administration Act 1969. Remote witnessing of affidavits must comply with section 2A of the Oaths and Declarations Act 1957.
* Disclaimer: We're nobody's lawyer, because we aren't lawyers. You are, so you know better than to take legal advice from an app. We also aren't accountants or dog trainers - just digital spirit guides taking zero liability for any of this. This site exists to gather the collective knowledge of practitioners like you. Verify everything and submit your feedback on the Family Protection Act Claims (Executor) matter plan to improve the playbook. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, it's a request for input.
This legal matter plan provides a structured workflow for Wills and Estates cases, outlining the standard DISPUTE_LITIGATION process. Utilize these tracking templates to manage your legal cases efficiently.
| Field | Token | Type | Required | Defined in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matter(4) | ||||
| Matter numberⓘ | matter.matterNumber | text | Required | inheritedmatter-core |
| Matter title | matter.title | text | - | inheritedmatter-core |
| Matter typeⓘ | matter.matterType | text | - | inheritedmatter-core |
| Matter status | matter.status | text | - | inheritedmatter-core |
| Client(1) | ||||
| Client name | matter.clientName | text | Required | inheritedmatter-core |
Got a question about this plan?
Ask in the practitioner Discord - edge cases, rule changes, and jurisdiction-specific nuances, all in one place.
We do not house forms for this jurisdiction yet. Where a task names a form, its link goes to the official source.