Agreeable Review

Our review of Agreeable looks at its legal document offerings, cost, pros and cons to help you decide if it's right for your legal needs

Updated 26 July 2022

Summary

Agreeable is an online service focused on change-in-circumstances legal needs, specifically prenups, separation agreements and deeds of debt and gifts.
The idea is simple - New Zealanders pay a low fixed rate for a legal document customisable to any situation. It's an online service that also has links to local lawyers all over New Zealand for certifying documents and giving advice to legalise the agreements.
Agreeable is a great option for anyone who doesn't have the time, money or want the stress of managing appointments and is comfortable with the convenience of an online service.

Our review of Agreeable looks at its offerings, cost, pros and cons to help you decide if it's right for your needs. We cover:

Agreeable Services and Prices

Agreeable's services are agreements and deeds for four key legal relationship property needs. Agreeable charges a fixed fee for each document/agreement and delivers a legal document you'll then need to have certified by a lawyer. These four documents include:

1. Relationship Property Agreement

This is for a prenuptial agreement (prenup); our guide explains what's involved in creating a binding prenup.
Agreeable charges $350 for a comprehensive, personalised prenup you can complete yourself.
Agreeable's process ensures you're guided step by step to create your own clear, understandable, and legally sound prenuptial agreement.
Agreeable can arrange independent lawyers to give you independent advice and complete the process legally. Agreeable provides a quote upfront to avoid any hidden costs.
More details: Read our Prenups guide and Agreeable's prenup service

2. Separation Agreement

This is for anyone exiting a relationship; our guide explains what's involved in creating a legally binding separation agreement.
Agreeable charges $350 for a comprehensive, personalised separation agreement you can complete yourself with your ex-partner.
Agreeable's process ensures you're guided step by step to create your own clear, understandable, and legally sound separation agreement.
Agreeable can arrange independent lawyers to give you independent advice and complete the process legally. Agreeable provides a quote upfront to avoid any hidden costs.
More details: Read our Separation Agreements guide and Agreeable's separation agreement service

3. Deed of Gift

This document is for anyone giving someone assets or money as a gift.
Agreeable charges $89 for a customisable deed that you can complete yourself.
Agreeable's process ensures you're guided step by step to create your own clear, understandable, and legally sound agreement. You can also contact their support team with any questions.
A deed of gift doesn't need to be legally certified, which means it will be valid once signed. However, Agreeable can arrange fixed-price legal advice on the implications of your deed.

4. Deed of Debt

This document, also known as a Deed of Acknowledgement of Debt, records and formalises a loan of money or assets to protect the lender in the future if disputes or disagreements should arise.
Agreeable charges $89 for a customisable loan agreement you can complete yourself.
Agreeable's process ensures you're guided step by step to create your own clear, understandable, and legally sound agreement. You can also contact their support team with any questions.
A deed of debt doesn't need to be legally certified, which means it will be valid once signed. However, Agreeable can arrange fixed-price legal advice on the implications of your deed.

Agreeable Pricing in a Nutshell

The cost of Agreeable services depends on what legal documents you choose. Here's a summary of some of the most popular options and their respective prices.

Relationship Property Agreement: $350
Separation Agreement: $350
Deed of Gift: $89
Deed of Debt: $89

Note: All prices include GST.

Important: These prices exclude the legal advice and certification costs which Agreeable will quote separately once you complete your agreement. You can see a range of estimates here. Costs will vary depending on your specific needs and how complicated your situation is.

Agreeable - Company Details, Media Coverage and Local Lawyer Network

Agreeable was established by Michael Heron QC, the former Solicitor-General of New Zealand.
Michael and associated family interests own Agreeable Limited, and the business was founded in 2016.
Agreeable works with lawyers all over New Zealand and provides a fixed-priced quote upfront for advice and certification services.
Agreeable was previously known as CODR, and has been profiled in Stuff.co.nz, the NZ Herald and TV One.

Who are Agreeable's Competitors and Alternative Service Providers

If you don't want to use Agreeable, a local lawyer is an alternative. There are many advantages of doing so - you'll have someone to handle your situation from start to finish, and you have the freedom to choose you who want to work with.

There are also disadvantages:

You will have to pay a per-hour charge to discuss and plan your agreement or deed.
You may have to wait. Lawyers are busy and may not have time to see you immediately or at a time that suits you.
Bringing in a lawyer from the start of a prenup or separation agreement can be contentious and create ill will between the parties at an already delicate time.

What's right for you is a personal choice. However, as Agreeable offers an online documentation service via a questionnaire, you have the time to plan and think about your needs and wants. This will, in most cases, save money while Agreeable's legal partners can assist with the final advice-and-sign stage. This is, arguably, the purpose of Agreeable and its strongest selling point.

Agreeable - Pros and Cons

Pros

Affordable, fixed-price document services for Relationship Property Agreements (prenups), Separation Agreements, Deed of Gift and Deed of Debt.
Upfront quotes - Agreeable can arrange independent lawyers to give you independent advice and complete the process legally. Agreeable provides a quote upfront to avoid any hidden costs.
Agreeable is linked to lawyers across New Zealand to bring expert help and competitive certification costs with an upfront quote. You also have the option to choose your advice and certification lawyer.
Online services almost always save money. Agreeable's documents and questionnaire are designed to let you discuss key decisions you'll need to make outside of a lawyer's office (which is an expensive per-hour experience). However, you will need to get independent legal advice as part of the certification process for separation and prenup agreements.
You can edit your agreement - Agreeable's online process uses a questionnaire format that allows you to go back to previously answered questions via secure login. This is far more cost-effective than asking a lawyer to make edits as decisions are made (which racks up costs).

Cons

It's an online service, so if you're not comfortable and want to talk to a lawyer upfront, Agreeable is unlikely to meet your needs.
Separations are stressful, and you'll need to certify your agreement with Agreeable to get specific legal advice from a lawyer. If you want specific legal advice from start to finish, you'll need to see an in-person lawyer.

The Bottom Line

Agreeable focuses on low-cost legal documentation and facilitating fixed-price advice and certification services that reduce the costs of prenups, divorce, debt deeds, and gifts. The focus is a 100% online solution covering key life events and changes in circumstances (entering or exiting a relationship or lending or gifting assets).
Agreeable is backed by a founder and team with a wealth of legal experience and a focus on low-cost, high-value documentation for resolving legal issues.
The service won't suit everyone - some situations are extra complicated, while others want to call a lawyer immediately to share the burden. However, if you're prepared to try an online solution, Agreeable is designed to be cheaper and more flexible than any in-person lawyer when it comes to drafting an agreement or deed.
Founded in 2016, Agreeable is a young company. However, the business is growing its services and plans to offer Wills and other services as it grows.
Overall, although some people won't suit the online-only process, Agreeable offers great value for individuals who have the initiative to help themselves save money while making careful considerations as they complete a questionnaire around their change in circumstances.
More details: Visit Agreeable

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