Your Estate Allocation FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Residuary Estate Allocation (NZ)

This FAQ explains how to divide your residuary estate by percentage and choose what happens if a recipient can’t take their share. It’s written for New Zealand users and optimised for quick reference and search. For step-by-step guidance, see the Estate Help Guide.

It’s everything left after paying funeral/estate expenses, debts and taxes, and after any specific gifts are carried out. You divide this residue by percentage among your chosen recipients.

Assign a percentage to each recipient so the total equals 100%. Use “Split equally” to auto-divide, then fine-tune as needed. The progress bar shows your running total.

Per Stirpes: a recipient’s descendants take that share by family branch. Per Capita: the share goes to surviving peers at the same level. No Substitution: their share is re-divided among the other residuary recipients.

Many people select Per Stirpes for close family (so a child’s branch isn’t skipped) and No Substitution for charities/organisations. Choose what matches your intent.

Your chosen condition applies. For example, with Per Stirpes their descendants take that share; with No Substitution it’s re-divided among the remaining residuary recipients.

A short survivorship period can avoid double administration if deaths occur close together. If used, it will apply before your substitution rule is tested.

Specific gifts (items or sums) are handled first. Whatever remains forms the residue and is divided by your percentages. If a specific gift fails, it generally falls into residue.

Yes. Executors may need extra ID/banking steps. Consider currency conversion, fees and timing. Clear contact details help administration run smoothly.

Yes. Update allocations and regenerate before signing. After you’ve signed the Will, changes require a new will or a properly executed codicil.

Yes — the page enforces that rule and shows your assigned/remaining tally. If you’re stuck, use “Split equally” then adjust one or two rows to suit.

Debts, taxes and expenses are paid first. Specific gifts may fail or reduce if assets are insufficient. The residue is whatever remains and is shared by your stated percentages.

Yes. Executors typically hold a minor’s share until 18 (or later if you set staged ages elsewhere). Your condition rule still applies if they cannot take earlier.

Yes — they can receive a percentage of residue. Use the full legal name. Many people set organisations to No Substitution so their share re-divides among people if the org can’t take.

Certain claims (e.g., relationship-property elections by a surviving partner, or family support claims) can affect what remains. Your executors must deal with these before final distribution.

Generally: funeral/estate expenses, debts and taxes, then specific gifts. The balance is your residue, which is divided by the percentages you set on this page.

Yes — this is common (e.g., partner or adult child). Ensure your two witnesses are independent of beneficiaries when you sign your Will.

Keep recipient names consistent with your Beneficiaries page, round percentages to whole or half numbers where possible, and check each recipient’s condition reflects your real intent.

Review on major life events (new child, relationship change, significant asset changes). Update and regenerate before signing a new will when circumstances change.
Need step-by-step guidance? Read the Estate Help Guide.
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