Enforcement of Foreign Judgements
Turner Hopkins has gained a considerable amount of experience and expertise in registering and enforcing foreign judgments in New Zealand.
The procedure to be adopted will depend on which overseas jurisdiction the judgment has been obtained and also the Court from which it has been issued. In some cases, the New Zealand Reciprocal Enforcements of Judgment Act will apply allowing a more streamlined and economic approach. In other cases it is necessary to apply to the appropriate New Zealand Court an order domesticating the overseas judgment. Our clients (including overseas legal advisors) are pleasantly surprised at the relatively modest costs involved.
We are always happy to provide an estimate as to the likely costs and analysis as to the procedure that could be adopted in each individual case. To do so, it will be necessary to supply to us a copy of the overseas judgment to be enforced, some details as to the manner in which it was obtained (regularly, after a hearing, by default or irregularly, for example, by way of substituted service).
It will also be necessary to identify the whereabouts of the debtor in New Zealand or a method by which they can be traced. We are happy to provide our preliminary analysis and estimate as to costs at no charge.
Helen Wendelborn
Michael Robinson