Fees

How I charge

Most of my work is charged at a fixed fee. If I take on one of the matters listed below, you pay the amount advertised on this page — unless your instructions turn out to be materially different from what you first told me, or the scope of the work expands in a way that could not reasonably have been foreseen when I set the fee.

Initial consultations are charged at my usual hourly rate. This applies to all matters, including wills. I don't reduce or waive the first-meeting fee for will appointments — but I also don't, as a rule, appoint myself as executor, which means your executor is free to use their own lawyer when the time comes and won't be locked in to working with me.

Fixed fees are charged as set out below.

Some matters can't be quoted as a fixed fee — negotiations, for example, where the time needed depends on how the other side responds. Where I can't offer a fixed fee, I charge an hourly rate of $300 plus GST.

When a fixed fee isn’t available

An initial consultation is charged at my hourly rate. This applies to every type of matter, including wills. You pay for that first meeting whether or not you decide to go ahead. If you do go ahead, the cost of that meeting is included in the fixed fee I charge you.

Initial consultations

If you have a concern about a fee I have charged, please contact me. You may also raise a concern with the New Zealand Law Society.

If you have a concern about a fee

Wills

Simple will, for one person $370 + GST A simple will is one where everything goes to a small, clear group of people (for example, your partner and children), with no trusts, no business or overseas property, and no one being left out.*

Simple wills, for a couple $650 + GST Simple wills for a couple means each of you leaves everything to the other, and then to the same people in set shares, such as your children.*

Complex wills $300/hr + GST*

Simple mutual wills, for a couple $1,200–$2,000 + GST Mutual wills are wills where the two of you agree that neither of you may change your will after the first of you dies, so that what you have planned for the people you care about is carried out. A simple mutual will follows the same rules as a simple will, as above.*

Enduring Powers of Attorney

One EPA only, for one person $370 + GST Either Property, or Personal Care & Welfare*

Both EPAs, one person $630 + GST*

Both EPAs, couple $1,240 + GST*

Medical opinion on capacity (when needed) $300/hr + GST* If a medical opinion on your capacity is needed, that is separate work and is charged at my hourly rate. The doctor's own assessment fee is payable by you directly to them. Where you are doing a will and an EPA at the same time, I charge for it only once.

Independent advice, EPAs already drafted by another lawyer — no changes required:

One person $310 + GST*

Couple $420 + GST*

Relationship property

During a relationship – pre-nups and mid-nups (contracting out agreements)

A contracting out agreement is a written agreement that sets how your property is shared if you separate, instead of the usual legal rules. A pre-nup is one signed before your relationship reaches the point where those rules usually apply, which is generally three years together. A mid-nup is my own term, not a legal one, for the same agreement signed after that point, often when something changes, such as an inheritance going towards the mortgage. Both work the same way legally, and it is best to start thinking about this as soon as you can. See my page on relationship property for guidance on reaching agreement and what to give me.

Pre-nup or mid-nup – one item only $900 + GST This records that one item, such as a house or an inheritance, stays the separate property of one of you.*

Pre-nup or mid-nup – covering everything $1,750 + GST This covers all of your property.*

Separating

Separation agreement – terms already agreed $2,300 + GST This records how you have agreed to divide your relationship property (the property the law treats as shared between you) when you separate.*

Unilateral severance of a joint tenancy $600 + GST + disbursements I prepare and lodge the documents to sever a joint tenancy where one owner acts on their own. LINZ registration and search fees are additional.*

Notice of claim against a title $700 + GST + disbursements I prepare and lodge a notice of claim against a title to record your claim to the property. LINZ registration and search fees are additional.*

Relationship property division – where you haven't agreed yet $300/hr + GST If you and the other person have not yet agreed how to divide your relationship property, I can advise you on your options and negotiate on your behalf. I can also support you through mediation, where a neutral person helps the two of you reach agreement.
This is charged by the hour because the work depends on how much there is to sort out and how far apart you are.*

KiwiSaver withdrawal application – I prepare and file it $2,670 + GST + $812 filing fee KiwiSaver savings built up during your relationship are usually relationship property, so they form part of the division. Once you and the other person have both signed a relationship property division agreement, I apply to the court for approval to withdraw the agreed amount from the KiwiSaver account. This price covers the court application only. Once the court approves, I send its order to the KiwiSaver provider, and the other person's lawyer handles receiving the funds.*

KiwiSaver withdrawal application – the other person's lawyer prepares and files it $800 + GST The other person's lawyer prepares and files the court application. I witness your documents and get them to that lawyer. The filing fee is $812. Who pays it is as negotiated between you and the other person.*

Agreements drafted by another lawyer

Independent legal advice on an agreement drafted by another lawyer, where disclosure has been provided and no changes are required.

Independent advice – one item only $500 + GST Another lawyer has drafted a pre-nup or mid-nup recording that one item, such as a house or an inheritance, stays the separate property of one of you. I explain the agreement to you, make sure you understand what you are agreeing to, and certify that I have done so. This price assumes the agreement needs no changes.*

Independent advice – full agreement $800 + GST Another lawyer has drafted an agreement covering all of your assets, either a pre-nup or mid-nup, or a separation agreement. I explain the agreement to you, make sure you understand what you are agreeing to, and certify that I have done so. This price assumes the other side has given me all the disclosure that is required (proof of their assets, for example) and that no changes need to be made to the agreement as presented.*

Estates

Probate application $1,200 + GST + $275 filing fee Probate is the High Court's confirmation that a will is valid and that the executors can act on it. This price covers the application for probate only, not the administration of the estate (collecting the assets, paying debts and passing everything on to the beneficiaries). It is for a clean application: the original will is available to me, it has no crossings out, corrections or missing pages, nothing about it raises questions, no one is disputing it, and there are two or fewer executors living in Dunedin.*
Where a probate application is not a clean application as described above, the fixed fee covers the work that falls within those limits. Any work beyond them is charged at my hourly rate of $300 + GST. If I think this is likely to happen, I will tell you.

Letters of administration application $1,970 + GST + $275 filing fee Letters of administration are what the High Court grants when someone has died without a valid will. They give the person who applies the legal authority to deal with the estate. This price covers the application for letters of administration only, not the administration of the estate (collecting the assets, paying debts and passing everything on to the people entitled to it).*

Letters of administration with will annexed $300/hr + GST Letters of administration with will annexed are what the High Court grants when someone has died leaving a will, but there is no executor able or willing to act on it, or there is some other major problem with the will. Annexed is just a fancy word for attached: the will still applies, but the Court appoints who is to be the Administrator, usually a beneficiary.
This is charged by the hour because the work depends on the reason there is no executor and on what the court requires.*

Ongoing estate administration advice $300/hr + GST Administration is the work that follows the court's grant: collecting the assets, paying debts and passing everything on to the people entitled to it. This is charged by the hour because the work depends on the estate and on how much help you want from me. I can advise you as the executor or administrator at any stage, from a single question to guidance through the whole process.*

Independent advice on a Notice of Choice $300/hr + GST* Where someone has died without a will and another firm is acting for the proposed administrator, I give you independent legal advice on the Notice of Choice. I go through the documents with you, explain the effect of Option A and Option B of Part 8 of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, and certify that you have had independent advice. This is charged at my hourly rate.

Trusts

$300/hr + GST* All trust work is charged at my hourly rate. I do not offer a fixed fee for trust work.

Client AI

Helping you get set up to use AI $300/hr + GST*

Fee notes

An asterisk (*) means the notes below apply to that price.

Enduring powers of attorney

For EPAs I draft, the fixed price covers up to three people appointed as attorney or successor attorney on each document. So you can name up to three on your property EPA and up to three on your personal care and welfare EPA. Couples get the same for each person. Naming more than three on a document is charged extra, at my hourly rate of $300 + GST.
Each attorney signs their own part of the EPA, and getting that done is up to you. If you would like me to organise the signing, whether by having your attorneys come into the office or by sending the documents out to them, that time is charged at my hourly rate of $300 + GST.

One lawyer per person

For relationship property agreements, divisions and KiwiSaver applications, I act for one of you only, so the other person needs their own lawyer. The exception is where I agree to act for both of you in drafting a relationship property agreement. In that case, each of you will then need your own lawyer. This exception never applies to KiwiSaver applications, where I act for one of you only.

Drafting and certifying

For pre-nups, mid-nups and separation agreements, the price covers drafting and certifying the agreement where the terms are already agreed when you come to see me.

Conveyancing

I do not do conveyancing myself. Where a property needs to be transferred, a colleague I work with does the conveyancing and charges you directly, so it is not part of my prices. It applies only where a property is involved.

Size of the estate

For probate and letters of administration applications, the price does not depend on the size of the estate.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs I pay to someone else on your behalf, such as courier fees or court filing fees. I charge them at cost, with no mark-up, and only if they are incurred. Where a filing fee is part of a price, it is shown separately in that price.

If your situation is more involved

Fixed prices assume a straightforward matter, as described under each item. If yours turns out to be more involved, I will tell you as soon as I know and quote for the extra work.
If the scope changes, I will confirm the change and its effect on the fee in writing, usually by email. You do not need to reply unless you disagree.

Hourly work

Where a price is per hour, the work is charged for the time it takes. If independent advice on an agreement drafted by another lawyer starts to need negotiating, the work moves to my hourly rate of $300 + GST.

Time recording

I record my time on fixed-fee matters, but you are charged the fixed fee.

Invoicing on fixed-fee matters

Fixed-fee matters are invoiced once, at the end. No administrative fee is charged on fixed-fee matters.

Administrative fee on hourly matters

On hourly matters, I may charge an administrative fee to cover standard office services, as set out in my Terms of Engagement.

Payment

Invoices are payable within seven days of the invoice date, unless agreed otherwise in writing.

Travel

Fixed prices and hourly rates do not include travel.
No charge: when we meet at my office, or at your lawyer's office.
$60 + GST per visit: for any other visit in Dunedin. This covers my time, petrol and any parking. Each visit is charged separately.
Outside Dunedin: quoted separately.

Fees page last updated 27 October 2026.

Let’s work together.

Please contact me, Lenny, if you would like to make an appointment or to discuss any of the information on this page.

Contact me