New Zealand raises probate threshold to NZ$40,000 to simplify smaller estate processes.

New Zealand's government will raise the probate threshold from NZ$15,000 to NZ$40,000 on September 24, 2025, to reduce costs and simplify the process for smaller estates. This change aims to ease the financial and administrative burden on grieving families, avoiding the need for a lengthy legal process for estates under the new threshold. Despite this change, having a will is still advised by Public Trust.