Jenny asked us to prepare a simple contracting out agreement to ensure her relationship home remains separate property on separation.
On discussion, we realised Jenny mainly wanted to protect the loan from her parents to her.
We also discussed with her what is to happen if either she or her partner is to pass away, and what is to happen if they are to separate after being together for a longer time.
At the end, we prepared an agreement which ensured she is covered for the above scenarios.
We also provided for remote witnessing in the agreement so she can sign on Zoom.
Jenny was happy. She really appreciates the work we did for her.
3 May 2024
22 January 2024
I had an potential issue that may might jeopardise my work visa application and it was a very stressful period of time for me. However, after I approached Teresa Chan Law for help, I was assisted by Max who was extremely friendly, professional, and was empathetic of my situation. He reassured me that there would not be any issues with my application and would help with providing supporting information for my application. I provided him with all the documents he needed and he helped me out every step of the way. I am grateful that visa application has been approved and I would definitely approach Max again for any assistance regarding my visa application again in the future.
9 Nov 2023
When a property purchase seems a great idea, a professional advices from a reliable lawyer helps resisting rush impulse and filling legal information gap, to reach the final happy result. Teresa Chan Law is the one, having stood out with the reputation of professional and reliable legal services in Dunedin, showing fully the responsibility, reliability, and professionalism to the customers in their work.
With longterm consistent professional accumulation, abundant case experiences, and good willingness, Teresa and Agnus as a team has gained my respect, and also became my favorite legal team. They have been giving me the legal backing for years. I'd like to say it's happy to corporate with you and thanks for your support. Wish you all the best.
Evelyne
“Since early 2018, Teresa Chan has always provided professional advice and handled our visa issues.
In the beginning, we went to Teresa feeling helpless with my fiancée’s two rejection visas that were applied for by an agent in our home country and the second time on our own, Teresa fought for us and got her into New Zealand with a partnership work visa quicker than we expected. Teresa has been the only person I always have full trust in the work that her firm provides. I’ve encountered passport issues and post-study-work-visa. Teresa’s professionalism has always made a successful case for us. The trust and support we’ve got from her are irreplaceable since we are in a different country from all sorts of things and experiencing difficulties with which no others will offer such tremendous support. I’ve turned to her to seek advice whenever I have issues at my work and even disputes with my landlord. I couldn’t recommend Teresa enough, and I am sure she would be a wise person to seek professional assistance whenever you need it”.
4 May 2023
We will always recommend Teresa Chan Law Limited!!! Due to the cultural difference and our inadequate English, I and my wife had performed during the immigration interview very badly. Immigration NZ raised the concerns about my wife's visa application. INZ had disapproved my wife's work visa and s61 application in succession. Teresa acted for us after 18 months of unsuccessfully dealing with it ourselves and after another immigration advisor failed. My wife was down to her last visa.Teresa has handled the problem professionally and effectively. My wife eventually got her visitor visa- partnership so she could stay in NZ. Teresa's work has made all the difference.
3 July 2022
My husband and I required immediate assistance with our visa application, seen my husband was facing deportation. Confused, stressed and fearful, we reached out for help. Teresa Chan Law answered our plea, and took the time to hear our story.
We were introduced to Max, an associate of Teresa Chan Law who took care of us every step of the way. Attentive, professional and understanding of our circumstances we knew we were in the right hands.
Our section 61 Visa was granted, and we continue to work with Teresa Chan Law today regarding our Residence Visa.
We highly recommend contacting Teresa Chan Law if your seeking help with your Visa requirements. Best decision we have made to date.
My partner and I and our baby girl applied for our Resident 2021 Visa through Teresa’s firm. Although I heard this one-off visa is easy to apply and could be handled by the applicants themselves, I chose to work with Teresa and her team. This is because they demonstrated great knowledge and consideration when they handled our Expression of Interest for Residency under the Skilled Migrant Category earlier. In addition, there were unknowns in the Resident 2021 Visa application process for which we preferred to have professional advice.
Turned out this is the best decision I made. We got our Approval in Principle letter within two months. I had expected the whole process to take six months or longer. Their expertise was essential to make this happen, because all the paperwork and steps were done properly.
I have already recommended them to my friends who are seeking immigration advice. I look forward to working with them again.
10 May 2022
We are a young couple trying to buy our first home with financial support from parents in China. There were a lot to consider with the lending process, together with AML process for the NZ government. Thanks to Teresa and Agnes, who are very experienced, and also experienced in Chinese AML processes, that made this whole process stress-free. They are friendly, honest, and most importantly, thinking for their client’s best interest. With their help, everything went smoothly, and we finally purchased our new home. I would highly recommend them to anyone, especially those in similar situation with us.
11 April 2022
Teresa and her assistant Agnes demonstrated their professionalism and efficiency when I applied for a partnership-based work visa. They turned the tide and got me a work visa when I was almost desperate. They provided very valuable help for my visa application in a period of only one month. If it were not for their dedicated work, my visa would not be so smooth, because I had applied for the visa for one year and had encountered a lot of complicated problems before they helped me. I would recommend their company to anyone, because they are really honest and reliable.
02/09/2020
I wanted to say a warm 'thank you' for seeing the entire process through. It took much patience and persistence on your behalf, but you succeeded. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to anyone needing property/family law assistance.
04/10/2019
The chances of us gaining residency were slim due to our ages; we were both well over 55. But thanks to Teresa Chan's guidance, assistance and letter to the ministry on our behalf, we obtained an age exception to apply for residency, which we were later granted.
Keep in mind a lot of work is involved. We were required to write a personal statement, supply letters of recommendation, fill out immigration forms, and do a lot of waiting, but having access to the legal knowledge and feedback of a lawyer was indispensable. If you are considering applying for residency, the process will be made much easier with a lawyer such as Ms. Chan.
Thank you
16/08/2019
“Teresa Chan Law is the best lawyer firm with great service in both Mandarin and English languages in Dunedin, honesty, integrity and efficiently, highly recommend. Thank you again and wish you all the best!!”
28/06/2019
Being a non-resident of New Zealand, selling my house is as confusing as when I bought the house. I sold another property before through another law firm. With that firm, the process was not explained to me. I was even appointed to another lawyer, for reasons which I could not understand. The final fee was different from the original quotation without any information provided, plus the language barrier, made me feel bamboozled. It changed my perception of New Zealand. I felt I didn’t belong here. I even felt disappointed with New Zealand.
This time a friend recommended Teresa Chan Law Limited. In the initial contact, Teresa and her Chinese speaking assistant gave me a very thorough explanation of the whole process, answered the questions I had due to my lack of understanding of New Zealand policies. Everything was very transparent to me.
They proposed a detailed, customer tailored plan based on my information and specific requirement. The legal fees were clear and fair. During the process, they communicated with me for everything I needed to know, effectively and professionally. They took care of my needs not only during the sale, but even after the transaction finished.
I am very happy and satisfied to have chosen Teresa for my lawyer.
07/06/2019
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Teresa in her role as Chair of the Dunedin Shanghai Association. Dunedin enjoys a special relationship with our sister city Shanghai and this is bringing many significant benefits to our city. This is in no small part thanks to the dedication and enthusiasm of the Dunedin Shanghai Association under Teresa’s leadership. Teresa and her team play a key role in introducing and facilitating business, cultural, education and sports links between Dunedin groups and their Shanghai counterparts, as well as celebrating Dunedin’s strong Chinese heritage. I look forward to working with Teresa on further opportunities for the benefit of our community in future."
02/05/2017
“I have been convenor of the Otago Lawyers Standards Committee since its inception in August 2008. Teresa was a valued member of the committee also from its inception until Christmas 2015. The committee deals with complaints against practitioners. Teresa brought her skills and experience in property and business law, immigration and trust accounting to the committee. These areas, particularly trust accounting, produced some of the more difficult complaints the committee has had to deal with. Teresa was responsible for overseeing the passage of some of these complaints through the committee and her contribution was invaluable.”
02/05/2017
"I have engaged Teresa over the last six years in regards to a variety of legal aspects for my business, Wild Things Ltd. This has ranged from advice around a share purchase, office leases, and general business advice on different legal issues. I have appreciated Teresa’s integrity and professionalism in working together on these legal aspects. Her knowledge and experience with commercial law is extensive. Where it is outside her area of expertise she will make an appropriate referral through her professional networks. At all times, she keeps the objectives of my business at the forefront of any legal work being done.
It is a pleasure to work with Teresa, she is down to earth and approachable at all times. It means for me that I have full confidence in her legal expertise which enables me to focus on my business."
02/05/2017
"In order to buy my first business, I was looking for a solicitor with experience. Teresa was very thorough and the communication was excellent which helped me understand the whole process. A few clauses were not working in my favour so she negotiated for some of those clauses to be taken off. Teresa put me on the right track with my business venture and I will always be thankful for that."
02/05/2017
"Teresa has been our lawyer for many years. Teresa is an important part of our team working on all aspects of our property and business activities. Teresa and her team have consistently performed to our high expectations. She gives very competent advice, is totally trustworthy and always reliable. She is always available to us and this is critical for our property negotiations and transactions. We cannot afford not to have an extremely proficient lawyer like Teresa!"
02/05/2017
“My late husband and I had been longstanding clients of Teresa’s for over 15 years, including a protracted and difficult litigation case. She established an immediate rapport with us and we always felt comfortable in our dealings with her. Since my husband’s death in 2011, Teresa has administered his Estate, the sale of my lifestyle property and the purchase of my residential property in the city.
Teresa has the attributes of an excellent lawyer: the ability to listen, attention to detail, efficient and accurate conveyancing and other matters, and empathetic care of her clients.
Teresa and her staff are always friendly and approachable with administration being accurate and trouble-free which is especially important to her older clients.
Being able to always have confidence in Teresa’s opinions and knowing she acts in my best interests has made such a difference to me.”
02/05/2017
"Teresa is one the most sincere and genuine lawyers we have had the pleasure to work with. We have approached a number of unsuccessful advisors before Teresa and was met with disappointing results. Teresa and her team explained concisely from the beginning and was ever so patient in assisting us on the documents that needed to be prepared. We have been in the process of preparing our residency application for years before we approached Teresa, but with her support we now feel confident about our submission. We are very satisfied with her service and would highly recommend her expertise to fellow migrants."
02/05/2017
"I approached Teresa for advice after the application for my parents’ NZ residency application had been declined. It was a true pleasure appointing Teresa as our lawyer. She is extremely professional and knowledgeable, very generous with her time, and always available to answer all our questions swiftly. From the very first contact with her to our case being successfully processed, we knew we were in safe and excellent hands. Teresa is not only exceptional in her profession, she is also accommodating, warm and caring. I was very much impressed and grateful for her integral help on our application. Thank you so much Teresa!"
02/05/2017
"Alliance Group Ltd Mataura engaged Teresa Chan Law to complete work visa applications for the beef boners we had sourced from our joint venture partner in China for the last couple of years.
In each case, the Firm had turned around the applications very quickly after the personal employment information was provided to them. Teresa also liaised with her contacts at the relevant Immigration Office in China to enable the applications to be lodged in a seamless manner. Her team paid good attention to detail and worked well with our contacts in China.
Through the efficient and good work of the Firm, we were able to maximise the time spent by the Chinese boners in New Zealand.
Teresa also offered to provide community support for the Chinese boners while they were here.
I am very happy to recommend the Firm's services."
02/05/2017
"We engaged Teresa to act for us in a difficult Estate dispute relating to our parents' Estates. The legal issues were complex and our older siblings were difficult and controlling. The case took around 2 years to get to Court and another year before a settlement was reached. Teresa worked with an experienced barrister on our case. Her firm completed much of the legal research, while the barrister prepared the Court documents and attended the preliminary hearings. Both Teresa and the barrister attended the settlement conference with us.
We have never been in front of a Court and the whole process was daunting to us. At each stage, Teresa explained to us the overview, our strategy and where we were heading. She never lost sight of what was important to us. She supported us right through and came back early from overseas to attend the settlement conference with us. Her liaison skills with those who attended the Settlement Conference was impressive and this and the barrister’s efforts lead to a successful result which we were happy with."
02/05/2017
"Believe or not, it can be a daunting task for a young migrant from a different culture to search for his or her first home in New Zealand. In seeking a quality lawyer to guide me through the home purchasing process, I was looking for knowledge, expertise, reputation, and above all, trustworthiness. Teresa's law firm has it all! Don’t look further."
02/05/2017
Nelson Duan – Rural Land Purchase
"When I first met Teresa, she gave me a very good impression of being capable, experienced and detailed. It proved I had been right after I bought a rural land section with her help. I assumed I had understood the whole process when the work began, but found later that I didn’t realise a lot of the detailed work that needed to be done. Lucky for me, Teresa is a very dedicated and professional lawyer. She warned me that there were conditions attached to the property imposed by NZ Transport Agency if it is to have an entrance onto the adjacent State Highway. She also advised me that the area has natural disaster risks. I adjusted my farm plan thanks to Teresa’s advice, which saved my money and time."
02/05/2017
