Margaret Aldercroft
Principal Partner · LLBAdmitted in 1985, Margaret founded the firm in 1987. She leads our property and trusts work and has seen well over a thousand Wellington settlements through to the day the keys change hands.
Barristers & Solicitors · Lambton Quay, Wellington · Est. 1987
The law, in plain English.
Aldercroft & Vane is a boutique Wellington firm. We give clear advice, quote fixed fees for standard matters, and look after every client personally.
Property · Trusts · Family · Commercial
Fixed fees on standard matters
Serving Wellington since 1987
Our Firm
Established 1987.
Established 1987.
Still answering our own phones.
Margaret Aldercroft opened this practice on Lambton Quay in 1987 with one assistant and a borrowed typewriter. Thomas Vane joined in 1996. The firm has stayed deliberately small ever since, because small is how careful work gets done.
We act for homeowners, families, trustees and owner-operated businesses across the Wellington region. Most clients come to us by referral and stay for decades. Many are now the children, and grandchildren, of the people we first acted for.
Two things have not changed since 1987. We explain the law in words you already know. And for standard matters, we tell you the full cost in writing before we begin.
“If a client leaves a meeting unsure of what was said, we have not done our job.” Margaret Aldercroft, Principal Partner
1987
Margaret opens the practice on Lambton Quay with one assistant and a borrowed typewriter.
1996
Thomas Vane joins. The firm adds commercial and employment work to its property base.
2009
Fixed written fees introduced for every standard matter. They have stayed ever since.
2026
The A&V Assistant begins answering common questions online, at any hour. Try it, lower right.
35+
Years in practice
8
Practice areas
2,400+
Fixed-fee matters completed
96%
Clients who would recommend us
Schedule of Expertise
Eight areas. One standard of care.
Enquire under any clause below.
- Sale and purchase agreements reviewed before you sign
- LIM reports, titles and easements checked and explained
- Settlement, KiwiSaver withdrawal and bank liaison handled for you
- Wills drafted or updated, simple or with trust provisions
- Family trusts established, reviewed or wound up
- Estates administered with care and clear timeframes
- Separation and relationship property agreements
- Care of children arrangements, negotiated calmly
- Contracting-out agreements before or during a relationship
- Business sale and purchase, from heads of agreement to handover
- Commercial leases negotiated and reviewed
- Shareholder and partnership agreements in plain English
- Employment agreements drafted and reviewed
- Restructures and redundancy processes run correctly
- Personal grievances, raised or defended
- Retirement village contracts explained before you commit
- PPPR applications for welfare and property orders
- Later-life planning alongside your family, at your pace
- Negotiation and mediation before litigation, wherever possible
- Contract, property and estate disputes
- Clear advice on the strength of your position, early
- Work, partner and visitor visa applications
- Residence applications prepared and lodged
- Employer accreditation and compliance
How We Work
Three steps, no surprises.
i.
We listen first
A first consultation covers your situation, your options and the likely path. You leave with a clear picture, whatever you decide to do next.
ii.
You get a written quote
For standard matters we set a fixed fee in writing before work begins. The price changes only if the scope does, and only with your agreement.
iii.
We carry it through
One lawyer owns your matter from start to finish. You are kept informed at every step, in plain English, without having to chase.
Schedule of Fees
Our prices, in plain sight.
Residential purchase or saleConveyancing, start to settlement
from $1,450
Standard willTwo wills for a couple, $650
$390
Enduring powers of attorneyProperty and welfare, the pair
from $560
Family trust establishedDeed, transfers and first minutes
from $2,200
Employment agreement reviewWritten advice within three working days
$450
First consultationUp to one hour, any matter
$180
All figures exclude GST and disbursements. Where a matter is not standard, we say so at the first meeting and give you a written estimate instead. No work starts until you have the price.
Level 4, 18 Custome Quay House
Lambton Quay, Wellington
Our People
Four people. You will know all of them.
Thomas Vane
Partner · LLMThomas joined in 1996 and became partner in 2001. He advises owner-operated businesses on commercial and employment matters, and is known for contracts people can actually read.
Fiona Reeves
Senior Associate · Family LawFiona acts in family law and relationship property. Clients describe her the same way, year after year: calm, practical and honest about what a good outcome looks like.
Daniel Okafor
Practice ManagerDaniel runs the office and is usually the first voice you hear. He keeps every matter moving, every file in order and every client informed of where things stand.
Client Words
Taken at their word.
They explained every step before it happened. Our settlement went through without a single surprise, on the day they promised.
Thomas sorted an employment issue that had kept me awake for weeks. Straight answers, a fair fixed fee, and a quick result.
Fiona treated our family with patience and honesty at a hard time. I always knew exactly where things stood, and what came next.
Common Questions
Asked often, answered plainly.
For standard matters such as conveyancing, wills, trusts and enduring powers of attorney, we quote a single fixed fee in writing before any work begins. The fee covers the matter from start to finish. It changes only if the scope changes, and we agree that with you first. Indicative prices are published in the Schedule of Fees above.
You meet the lawyer who would handle your matter. We listen, review any documents you bring, and set out your options, likely costs and next steps in plain English. There is no obligation to proceed.
Calls and emails received before 3pm are answered the same working day. If your matter is urgent, say so when you contact us and Daniel will make sure the right person calls you back promptly.
Yes. We hold consultations by video call or phone whenever that suits you better, and documents can be signed electronically where the law allows. Many of our clients live outside Wellington, and some outside New Zealand.
Bring photo identification and any documents connected to your matter, such as agreements, correspondence or a current will. If you are not sure what is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for us to set something aside than to wait for it.
Contact
Talk to us before it becomes a problem.
Most legal trouble is cheaper to prevent than to fix. A short conversation now is often all it takes.
- Visit
- Level 4, 18 Custome Quay House,
Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011 - Phone
- +64 4 555 0142
- enquiries@aldercroftvane.co.nz
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm
Thank you. We have your enquiry.
A member of the team will reply within one working day. If your matter is urgent, please call +64 4 555 0142.