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When it comes to company valuations for legal disputes in New Zealand, the parties to a dispute, working with their professional advisors, face an important decision at the outset of the engagement: should they commission an AES-2 valuation or opt for an indicative valuation?

An increasing trend towards the appointment of a single joint forensic accounting expert (SJE) for relationship property matters has emerged in New Zealand, compared to the traditional approach where each party appoints their own forensic accounting expert.

The NZ Property (Relationships) Act contains various provisions for compensatory adjustments in the division of relationship property.

The New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2021 is based on the views of over 270 family law practitioners. It is one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.

The New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2019 is based on the views of over 250 family law practitioners. It is one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind.

The New Zealand Relationship Property Survey 2017 is based on the views of nearly 400 family law practitioners. It is one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind

In New Zealand relationship property proceedings, forensic accountants and other expert witnesses are almost always appointed on behalf of one of the parties (a ‘party appointed expert’, or PAE). In comparison, where expert evidence is required in matrimonial cases in the United Kingdom and Australia, the parties normally jointly appoint a single expert (a ‘single joint expert’, or SJE).

With nearly 150,000 small to medium businesses operating in New Zealand, an ownership interest in a family business features in many relationship property settlements. The interest held in that business can represent a significant proportion of the relationship property, and in some cases it can make settlement proceedings considerably more complicated.