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New Zealand relationship property lawyers.

Whether you’re going through a separation, or starting again, we provide expert advice on relationship property agreements, prenups and litigation. Based in Nelson, but providing advice to all New Zealanders.

Whether you’re going through a separation, or starting again, we provide expert advice on relationship property agreements, prenups and litigation. Based in Nelson, but providing advice to all New Zealanders.

You can sleep easy with Clean Break’s Specialist help

You will love our straightforward approach to sorting out your how your property should be divided – without unnecessary conflict, drama or confusion.

It’s our job to make things less stressful for you. We take this seriously, and take care not to use unnecessary jargon and give you as much certainty with our price as possible.

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Love working with us or your money back

You can be confident in your choice with our 30 day money back guarantee. If you aren’t happy in your first 30 days, tell us why. If we can’t fix it and you need to fire us, provided we haven’t already signed your agreement, we will refund you everything you have paid. We will also point you in the direction of another good lawyer who might be a better match.

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Read why so many people recommend us.

Trusted by Clients, Respected in Court

Prior to working with Sarah after a relationship break up, I had been unsure of my rights and this was incredibly troubling and unsettling (to say the least!). I was being given advice from people with good intentions but not necessarily qualified legal knowledge so I knew I needed to do something more about this. Emotions were high and a real sense of helplessness and foreboding was clouding my judgement and well being. After meeting Sarah, I had a direction that we were going to work towards. We had a thorough chat which outlayed details about what our relationship had…

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She was professional and I felt completely confident with her advice

Prior to working with Sarah after a relationship break up, I had been unsure of my rights and this was incredibly troubling and unsettling (to say the least!). I was being given advice from people with good intentions but not necessarily qualified legal knowledge so I knew I needed to do something more about this. Emotions were high and a real sense of helplessness and foreboding was clouding my judgement and well being.

After meeting Sarah, I had a direction that we were going to work towards. We had a thorough chat which outlayed details about what our relationship had entailed and where this left me. Our separation was not simple as there was a Family Trust among all the other things, so we had a lot of toing and froing as Sarah communicated with the lawyer representing my Ex.

Some curve balls were thrown my way and Sarah had a very concise and constructive response to any of my questions. We tried to negotiate at a pre court arrangement with a Judge and we were offered a cheeky payout deal. Sarah stood up for me. Even after the Judge suggested it would be easier to take it than to go to Court, Sarah argued that the law stated this and that, and settling well below was not an option for us. And it was the ‘us’ term that I felt. We were doing this together.

Standing our ground and knowing what my rights were was a real game changer. I was also encouraged to weigh up the emotional cost of this all. Sarah took a lot of that strain off my shoulders by being very ‘matter of fact’ with me. This is an incredibly taxing journey to go on, and understanding that neither myself or Ex were going to get exactly what we wanted was important to remember. We settled out of court and it was a huge relief!

Moving on, I have a new home, a new life and the weight and pressure has been lifted. Sarah showed me skills about how to safeguard myself and I now have some life experience to share with anyone who may think that the relationship they are in is as good as it will ever get! My advice is that if this voice is saying this to you, then life is better when you are out!

Sarah welcomed support from my whānau as some meetings we had were going to be very thorough and I thought I might need another set of ears to help me remember what had been said.

Sarah was well organised, she was professional and I felt completely confident with her advice and knowledge she shared.

If anyone is needing guidance, advice or a fabulous lawyer, I highly recommend Sarah.

Philippa J, Auckland.

I had a relationship property case I had been struggling to get anywhere with another lawyer for over 2 years. Once I connected with Sarah my case was prioritised and I finally felt I had someone on my side. Sarah was methodical and organised and really took charge - she followed up with anything that was waiting to be addressed and collated affidavits and evidence on my behalf. As it was nearing 3 years since the separation, Sarah requested a judicial conference which led to the case being settled. If I had not connected with Sarah, I believe my case…

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If I had not connected with Sarah, I believe my case would not have gone anywhere

I had a relationship property case I had been struggling to get anywhere with another lawyer for over 2 years. Once I connected with Sarah my case was prioritised and I finally felt I had someone on my side. Sarah was methodical and organised and really took charge – she followed up with anything that was waiting to be addressed and collated affidavits and evidence on my behalf. As it was nearing 3 years since the separation, Sarah requested a judicial conference which led to the case being settled.

If I had not connected with Sarah, I believe my case would not have gone anywhere, too much time would have passed, and I would have walked away without what was lawfully and morally mine.

The support Sarah gave me through this extremely difficult period meant so much to me – when she phoned to tell me the offer had been accepted, I could hear in her voice that she was truly as ecstatic as I was to finally have closure.

I would highly recommend using Sarah’s services, she gives sound legal advice and was able to get me a fair settlement.

Anonymous, Motueka.

I came to Sarah for help with my relationship property; it wasn't a straight forward case however she knew exactly how to help whilst still keeping my best interests at heart. Sarah really listened to me and what I was trying to achieve in my situation, made sure I was well aware of my rights, and worked to deliver the best possible outcome. I never had any doubts with Sarah and knew that throughout the entire process I could trust her in ensuring my interests were as protected as possible. Sarah nailed the contract and both parties were happy with…

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I highly recommend Sarah

I came to Sarah for help with my relationship property; it wasn’t a straight forward case however she knew exactly how to help whilst still keeping my best interests at heart. Sarah really listened to me and what I was trying to achieve in my situation, made sure I was well aware of my rights, and worked to deliver the best possible outcome. I never had any doubts with Sarah and knew that throughout the entire process I could trust her in ensuring my interests were as protected as possible. Sarah nailed the contract and both parties were happy with the outcome. I highly recommend Sarah as someone knowledegable, respectful, hard working and who listens and really understands her clients.

K.C, Christchurch.

I found myself in the unfortunate situation of splitting up with my partner and having to determine what to do with our shared property. The process was obviously new to me and incredibly overwhelming. Between the negotiations, re-financing, and contracts, I was completely lost and pretty hopeless about the situation ending positively. I was incredibly lucky to have Sarah help me through this process. I genuinely felt like she had my best interests in mind, she knew exactly what to do during the countless road bumps we encountered, and she was incredibly communicative and available any time an issue would…

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I was incredibly lucky to have Sarah help me

I found myself in the unfortunate situation of splitting up with my partner and having to determine what to do with our shared property. The process was obviously new to me and incredibly overwhelming. Between the negotiations, re-financing, and contracts, I was completely lost and pretty hopeless about the situation ending positively.

I was incredibly lucky to have Sarah help me through this process. I genuinely felt like she had my best interests in mind, she knew exactly what to do during the countless road bumps we encountered, and she was incredibly communicative and available any time an issue would arise. I honestly can’t imagine navigating that situation without her help – especially having it resolved in such a fair, respectful, and professional way. I seriously can’t recommend Sarah enough.

Ben B, Raglan.

Before working with Sarah, I was feeling stuck and uncertain about the journey of a marriage separation. I had another lawyer beforehand who didn't really work with me to guide me through a challenging part of my life. But after my collaboration working with Sarah, I can confidently say that things improved very quickly. She personally made a significantly challenging moment become so easy and with such smooth communication made me not worry at all. Working with Sarah was seamless and enjoyable considering the situation. I particularly appreciated her knowledge and skills e.g. attention to detail, creative approach, patience. Her…

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I can confidently say that things improved very quickly

Before working with Sarah, I was feeling stuck and uncertain about the journey of a marriage separation. I had another lawyer beforehand who didn’t really work with me to guide me through a challenging part of my life. But after my collaboration working with Sarah, I can confidently say that things improved very quickly. She personally made a significantly challenging moment become so easy and with such smooth communication made me not worry at all.

Working with Sarah was seamless and enjoyable considering the situation. I particularly appreciated her knowledge and skills e.g. attention to detail, creative approach, patience. Her ability was very impressive and helped me achieve a desired outcome.

Now we have completed our journey I feel relieved, empowered and excited to have everything behind me. I’m grateful for the experience and the results we achieved together.

Zane L, Nelson.

I never thought I'd engage a relationship property lawyer, let alone wish to write a review for one. Life, however, can serve up the unexpected and it's a relief to know there are people like Sarah ready to stand by you if it does. Sarah had the knowledge and experience to navigate the legal intricacies of my case, but more importantly expressed the necessary temperament and judgement to achieve a positive outcome. I felt secure knowing Sarah was not simply correct on any given matter (she was!), but that she would skillfully advance what was right, all while being incredibly,…

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It’s a relief to know there are people like Sarah

I never thought I’d engage a relationship property lawyer, let alone wish to write a review for one. Life, however, can serve up the unexpected and it’s a relief to know there are people like Sarah ready to stand by you if it does. Sarah had the knowledge and experience to navigate the legal intricacies of my case, but more importantly expressed the necessary temperament and judgement to achieve a positive outcome. I felt secure knowing Sarah was not simply correct on any given matter (she was!), but that she would skillfully advance what was right, all while being incredibly, incredibly efficient and prompt. Choose Sarah. She’s one of the best.

C, Wellington.

I engaged Sarah as my lawyer through word of mouth early in my separation. It became quickly apparent to me that she was going to become a safe pair of hands in a frequently overwhelming situation. Honestly I can not recommend Sarah highly enough. Her pragmatic and fair approach sat well with my values to ‘take the high ground’, and be fair and truthful in all transactions and intentions. Sarah somehow thought the same way as I did and was able to see the direction things could be heading and cut them off quickly. I really appreciated how Sarah clearly…

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Diligence to ensure I received the fairest settlement

I engaged Sarah as my lawyer through word of mouth early in my separation. It became quickly apparent to me that she was going to become a safe pair of hands in a frequently overwhelming situation. Honestly I can not recommend Sarah highly enough. Her pragmatic and fair approach sat well with my values to ‘take the high ground’, and be fair and truthful in all transactions and intentions. Sarah somehow thought the same way as I did and was able to see the direction things could be heading and cut them off quickly.

I really appreciated how Sarah clearly explained the legal side of things, so I completely understood my position and was in a position to make decisions for myself. Separation from a long term partner is an extremely stressful situation. Often things start out amicably, but deteriorate even with the best intentions.

Well meaning people speak negatively about lawyers and their intentions. I never felt that way about Sarah. She was a complete rock and I felt grateful to have her in my corner during that very protracted difficult period. Sarah’s diligence to ensure I received the fairest settlement was clear right through the process and she worked hard to achieve that for me.

I unhesitatingly recommend Sarah to anyone who is looking for a safe pair of legal hands. 5 stars.

S.G, Christchurch.

Our Approach

We cap the number of clients we help at any one time, to ensure we provide great service to you and are available when you need us.

You can expect prompt communication, and advice that is strategic, creative and cost effective. We know the law inside out, so you can be assured that you will get the advice you need to make the best decision for you.

We like amicable separations and promote this wherever possible. However, we also regularly assist people with tricky situations in the Family Court.

You can communicate with us the way you want best (whether text, email or calls). We are flexible to your needs and use technology to make catching up as easy as possible

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Insights

Free practical advice to help you with your separation.

Frequently Used Words

Frequently Used Words

No need to be confused, here is a short glossary with all of the strange words your lawyer might use during your separation. Here is our quick glossary with some easy to understand definitions for frequently used words and phrases…

Do You Owe Your Ex for Student Loan Payments?

Do You Owe Your Ex for Student Loan Payments?

Do you – or have you – ever had a student loan? Has your ex? If your answer is yes, you should talk to your relationship property lawyer about it. We explain why below. Do you – or have you…

PO Box 33, Nelson, 7040
3/63 Collingwood Street, Nelson

Phone: 03 539 1030

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