Carolyn Ranson

Director LLB (Hons) Dip. Bus.
An experienced litigation and elder law lawyer, Carolyn completed her law degree at City, University of London in 1996. She was in house legal counsel for a large retirement village operator, before entering private practice in 2000. She joined Smith and Partners in 2011 as a senior lawyer before becoming a director of the firm.

As director, Carolyn heads the Litigation and Dispute Resolution arm of the practice which includes the family, employment, civil litigation and estate litigation teams.

Carolyn’s own area of specialisation now focuses on Estate litigation and Elder Law in general, including applications under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act 1988 (where no enduring powers of attorney are in place or where an attorney’s actions are challenged) and disputes arising from challenges to Wills, including Will interpretation and initiating and defending family protection, trusts, relationship property, testamentary promises, testamentary incapacity and undue influence claims.

As well as a flourishing litigation practice, Carolyn has extensive experience as a general practitioner for private and commercial clients in civil law, company, trust law, estate planning, and wills matters and has a specialist knowledge and a keen interest in retirement villages as part of her elder law practice.

In 2022, Carolyn was invited by the New Zealand Retirement Commission to provide feedback and comment on the proposed standardised Occupation Right Agreement for Retirement Villages and its content. The report can be accessed here – https://retirement.govt.nz/retirement-villages/monitoring-and-reports/monitoring-reports/

Carolyn supports the firm’s commitment to the local community including volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau at Henderson and Massey and to its various community sponsorships. She is a member of the New Zealand Law Society, the Auckland District Law Society and the Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association.

Carolyn is a mother of three and enjoys family time – sailing in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Carolyn in the News
Kiri Allan controversy puts spotlight on return to work after mental health leave | Human Relations Director New Zealand (hcamag.com)

Trust sales: things can get complicated – NZ Herald article on selling property owned by a family trust

Your credit history up for scrutiny – stuff.co.nz article on changes to credit ratings

Uber driver US case may have NZ fallout – NZ Herald article on a Recent Case in the US and its Effect on Uber’s NZ Employment Agreements

Check before you cut loose – NZ Herald article on property rights and responsibilities regarding trees

Embracing a new lifestyle – NZ Herald article on downsizing

Working with West Auckland businesses and families since 1988 – Rosebank Roundabout

Contact Carolyn

+64 9 837 6840

email Carolyn


PERSONAL ASSISTANT

Suzanne Sumner

+64 9 837 6840

email Suzanne

Carolyn’S Recent articles