Useful
RESOURCES
Search for a lawyer
- New Zealand Law Society www.lawsociety.org.nz
- Family Lawyers www.familylaw.org.nz
- Property Lawyers www.propertylawyers.org.nz
- Criminal Lawyers New Zealand Criminal Bar Association
Free legal advice
- Community Law - provides legal information, education, legal advice www.communitylaw.org.nz/
- Citizens Advice Bureaus - they can assist with information about the law with some able to provide initial legal advice and they offer referrals www.cab.org.nz/
- Youth Law - free legal services for children and young people www.youthlaw.co.nz/
Legal Aid
- Criminal Legal Aid: Get a criminal legal aid lawyer.
- Family or Civil legal Aid: Get a family or civil legal aid lawyer
- Bankruptcy Notices
- Dissolution of Marriage Documents (Divorce Proceedings)
- Employment Court Statement of Problems
- Family Proceedings
- Guardianship Orders
- Letters of Demand, Statutory Demand
- Notice of Proceedings
- Orders Preventing Removal of Children
- Privacy Act Complaints
- Property Law Act (PLA) Notices
- Statements of Defence
- Summons to a Financial Assessment
- Trespass Notices
- Witness Summons
General Courts - 4 levels
- District Court (hears both civil and criminal matters)
- High Court (hears major crimes and more significant civil claims)
- Appeal Court (hears appeals from High Court, District Courts and the Employment Court)
- Supreme Court (hears appeals for significant civil and criminal cases)
Specialist Courts
- Employment Court (labour relations)
- Family Courts (child custody, parental access, divorce, adoption, protection orders and the care and protection of children)
- Youth Courts (offences committed by young people)
- Māori Land Court and Māori Appellate Court (Māori land matters)
- Environment Court (resource management, planning and development matters)
Tribunals
Includes: disputes, motor vehicle, human rights, tenancy, real estate agents, accident compensation and waitangi tribunals.
For information on the various tribunals click here.
Where to go to get your affidavit sworn/ affirmed
An affidavit, setting out your evidence or statement, may be either sworn on oath or by way of affirmation before an authorised person.
- Oath - is sworn on a religious book such as the Bible or Qur’an.
- Affirmation - is an oral statement declaring that the written contents are true, instead of taking an oath
How to find an authorised person...
- Court Registrar, Deputy Registrar of the District or High Court - search for your local court
- Justice of the Peace - search register
- an enrolled barrister or solicitor - search the Law Society
- Notary Public - search the register
Applying for a divorce in New Zealand - Click here
Dissolving a marriage or civil union’ is the legal term for divorce. The Family Court can end your marriage or civil union by making a Dissolution Order.
When you both agree to get a divorce - click here
Once you’ve decided if you want to appear in court or not, then you both need to fill in the forms. Joint Application Form
Apply for a divorce on your own - click here
If your ex-partner doesn’t want a divorce or they won’t agree to apply together or you don’t want to ask them to apply together, you can apply on your own. One Party Application Form. Find out how we can help.
- New Zealand Law Society - Established in 1869 the New Zealand Law Society is the parent body for barristers and solicitors in New Zealand that regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand.
- New Zealand Bar Association - promotes the interests of barristers and has a search feature for the public to find a barrister in New Zealand who has ...
- NZ Law Association - an association of independent legal practices.
- ADSL - The Auckland District Law Society is an independent membership organisation that connects the New Zealand legal profession.
- New Zealand Society of Notaries - New Zealand lawyer authorised to officially witness signatures on legal documents, collect sworn statements, administer oaths and certify the authenticity of legal documents for use overseas.
A notary public (sometimes called a notary or a public notary) in New Zealand is a lawyer authorised by the Archbishop of Canterbury in England to officially witness signatures on legal documents, collect sworn statements, administer oaths and certify the authenticity of legal documents for use overseas. www.notarypublic.org.nz
A notary public uses an embossing tool (seal) to verify their presence at the time the documents were signed. When visiting a notary public it is important to have formal identification with you ideally your passport or photo drivers licence.
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The information on this website is intended to provide general information to the public. The contents of the Docuserve NZ website, are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Always seek the advice of a qualified lawyer with any questions you may have regarding a legal matter.
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