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Aspiring Law

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Aspiring Law

Aspiring Law is a boutique legal practice, pioneering a modern take on legal support.

29/07/2026

What Checks Should You Be Doing When Buying a Business?

Buying a business can be exciting - but what you're really buying is much more than stock, equipment, or a brand name.

Behind every business are contracts, financial records, employment obligations, leases, licences, and potential liabilities. Without proper due diligence, purchasers can inherit risks they never anticipated.

The goal isn’t perfection - it’s informed decision-making. It's about understanding what you're buying, identifying potential risks, and making informed decisions before settlement.

Whether it's reviewing financial performance, checking key contracts, conducting asset security searches, or understanding employment obligations, the right checks can save significant time, money, and stress down the track.

Need advice? Call us on 03 443 0900 or email [email protected].

🔗 Read our latest article for a practical guide to the due diligence process when buying a business: https://aspiringlaw.co.nz/articles/what-checks-should-you-be-doing-when-buying-business

17/07/2026

Meet Graeme – proof that it's never too late to change course ✈️⚖️

Graeme gained his law degree at age 61, while working full time at a large Kiwi corporate as a long-time member of the management team. Today he specialises in family and business trusts, with a real gift for guiding people through estate planning changes later in life, plus advising Incorporated Societies on re-registration under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

But it's what he does outside the office that really gets people talking. Graeme has been a private pilot since 1999, with 720+ hours in the air, including 200+ hours flying in formation, just two metres from another aircraft. He's represented New Zealand in formation flying and picked up national awards along the way, most recently in Timaru earlier this year.

We asked him what flying and law have in common. His answer: "You need a licence to do it. Knowing the rules is really important. It takes great discipline... and when the team does it well together, it's impressive."

Sounds a lot like good legal advice to us.

Read Graeme's full story here👉 https://aspiringlaw.co.nz/articles/meet-graeme-our-aspiring-lawyer-who-found-his-wings-later-life

16/07/2026

Our latest client newsletter is out now!

This edition has practical tips and insights from our team, including buying your first home with KiwiSaver, what you need to know about rights of way, the checks to make before buying a business, and purchasing a pre-quake home. You'll also get to know a couple of the friendly faces behind Aspiring Law.

Take a look here 👇
https://aspiringlaw.app.boltmail.nz/campaigns/lr01124c4rfc2

15/07/2026

Good legal advice looks beyond the document.

Sometimes the most important legal work starts with getting to know our clients and asking the right questions.

In estate planning, the outcome often depends on details like how assets are owned, what family circumstances look like, and whether the legal structure supports what someone actually wants to happen.

As a law firm that specialises in helping people in our community, it's important that we see the bigger picture, and understand what sits behind the legal task our clients ask us to do. Having the right conversations upfront can help make sure their wishes work out the way they intended.

🔗 Take a look at an example on our website of why those details matter: https://aspiringlaw.co.nz/articles/good-legal-advice-looks-beyond-document

08/07/2026

Age Restrictions in Lifestyle Villages: What You Need to Know

A recent court decision has found that age-restricted lifestyle villages, where residents own their own homes, generally can't enforce rules requiring residents to be over a certain age.

The case arose after a resident's adult daughter moved into her mother's home to receive family support. When the village sought to enforce its rule that only people aged over 55 years could live in the development, the matter ultimately led to a decision that those restrictions breached the Human Rights Act.

This could mean more flexibility for homeowners, including:
✔️ selling to buyers of any age
✔️ having younger partners or family members live with them permanently.

It's important to note that this decision does not apply to retirement villages registered under the Retirement Villages Act, as the act provides an exemption that allows registered retirement villages to place restrictions on the age of the residents.

If you live in an age-restricted lifestyle village and would like to understand what this could mean for you, get in touch with our team.

📞Call us on 03 443 0900 or email [email protected].

03/07/2026

Congratulations to Molly on her admission to the bar!

To make the day even more special was that her mum, Minka, was her moving counsel. It's not often you get to see a mother and daughter share such an important professional milestone, with one following in the other's footsteps.

Well done Molly on this well-earned achievement. We wish you all the best as you begin this next stage of your legal career.

02/07/2026

All Residential Care Subsidy asset limits changed from 1 July 2026.

For example, the asset threshold for a single person aged 65+ has increased to $300,811, and the gifting allowance has also gone up slightly.

Even if this feels a long way off, it can still be relevant, especially if you’re thinking about how your assets are structured, supporting family, or what things might look like later on. They’re small changes, but they can make a difference to how plans work in practice over time.

Because we aim to get to know our clients beyond the legal work they first came to us for, changes like this can be a useful reason to check in. It doesn’t always mean anything needs to happen. Sometimes it’s just a conversation to confirm things are on track, or it might lead to an adjustment that gives people more confidence in their planning.

If you’d like a simple overview, we’ve shared the key points on our website: https://aspiringlaw.co.nz/articles/good-planning-means-knowing-when-adjust-when-things-change

17/06/2026

Greater Transparency in LIMs: What the New Rules Mean

Changes to Land Information Memorandums (LIMs) mean councils must now provide clearer information about natural hazards that may affect a property.

From flood risk and erosion through to other known hazards, LIMs will now include:
• Clearer hazard information
• Plain English summaries
• Dedicated natural hazard sections
• Maps and supporting information

While these changes improve transparency for buyers, they could also affect things like insurance availability, insurance costs, and future property values.

If you're buying property, especially in a hazard-prone area, it's important to understand what the LIM is telling you before you commit.

🏠 Need assistance? Call us on 03 443 0900 or email [email protected].

🔗 Read the full article here: https://aspiringlaw.co.nz/articles/more-information-natural-hazards-land-information-memorandums-councils-what-property

05/06/2026

Boundary Issues: Easier to Resolve Today Than Tomorrow

This recent case is a great reminder of the importance of understanding property boundaries when buying property.

What makes this dispute particularly interesting is that both owners were aware of the issue when they purchased their properties, and the encroachment had existed for more than 100 years. Despite this, the matter ultimately ended up before the courts, resulting in significant time, cost and stress for everyone involved.

The key lesson? If a boundary issue or encroachment is identified, it's often far better to investigate it thoroughly and work towards a solution while all parties are still willing and able to have constructive conversations.

Property issues rarely become simpler with time. Understanding the risks, seeking advice early, and addressing concerns proactively can help avoid costly disputes down the track.

🏠 Need advice? Call us on 03 443 0900 or email [email protected].

Read the full article here: https://www.stuff.co.nz/home-property/360986801/couples-battle-over-house-encroaches-their-property

Address

62 Ardmore Street, Level 1
Wanaka
9305

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 5:30pm

Website

http://www.aspiringlaw.co.nz/

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