Ross Holmes Virtual Lawyers Limited

10/06/2026

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/your-living-will-only-speaks-when-you-cant-and-you-decide-exactly-when-that-is

The most common worry we hear about Advance Healthcare Directives is this: “If I write down that I don’t want life-prolonging treatment, will doctors stop treating me the moment something goes wrong?” The answer is no, and understanding why is the key to understanding how a living will actuall...

09/06/2026

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/assisted-dying-in-new-zealand-who-can-ask-how-it-works-and-the-one-thing-you-cannot-plan-in-advance

Published by Ross Holmes Lawyers (RHL) ‍Since the End of Life Choice Act 2019 came into force on 7 November 2021, New Zealanders with a terminal illness have had the lawful option of asking for medical help to end their lives. It is a difficult subject, and a deeply personal one. This article expl

08/06/2026

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/the-mps-private-super-scheme-explained-and-how-it-could-work-for-you

Published by Ross Holmes Virtual Lawyers (RHL)   This week the New Zealand Herald reported that Labour leader Chris Hipkins holds a private superannuation scheme that owns his family holiday home — and that contributions to the scheme are being used to pay off the mortgage on it. Asked a

04/05/2026

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/hlaphrdpoclqd4695ljx007nlke5xs

NZ assets plus Australian property or Pacific Island assets? One will is rarely enough. NZ lawyer Ross Holmes on the two-wills strategy that saves your family thousands.

30/04/2026

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/labours-2026-capital-gains-tax-proposal-what-property-owners-and-investors-need-to-know

03/04/2026

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/why-we-never-let-ai-write-the-first-draft

AI can help lawyers think better — or it can do their thinking for them. At Ross Holmes Lawyers, we've made a deliberate choice about which one we'll accept. Here's why it matters to you. There's a moment that happens in almost every law firm that has started using AI. Someone types a request into

18/03/2026

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/when-is-oio-approval-needed-to-buy-a-home-in-new-zealand-and-when-is-it-not

Buying residential property in New Zealand can be confusing when one or both buyers have overseas citizenship, residence visas, or ties to more than one country. The key point is this: whether Overseas Investment Office (OIO) consent is needed depends on who is buying , what kind of land is being

09/12/2025

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/shareholder-loans-under-the-spotlight-what-inland-revenues-proposals-mean-for-new-zealand-business-owners

1. Why shareholder loans are suddenly getting attention Many closely held New Zealand companies don’t pay everything out as wages or dividends. Instead, shareholders take drawings that show up in the accounts as a loan from the company to the shareholder – an overdrawn current account. Used pro

09/12/2025

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/immediate-dissolution-of-marriage-now-available-if-you-have-a-protection-order-and-what-it-can-mean-if-theres-a-trust

1. The big change: you may no longer have to wait two years Until recently, almost everyone in New Zealand seeking a dissolution of marriage had to wait  2 years after separation before they could apply to dissolve their marriage or civil union . That was the case even

24/11/2025

https://rossholmeslawyers.com/blog/thinking-of-selling-what-every-vendor-needs-to-know-to-avoid-a-leaky-home-claim

Selling your home should be an exciting next step — not the start of a legal nightmare. Yet many New Zealanders find themselves facing unexpected claims months after settlement, often involving allegations of hidden leaks, rot, or unconsented building work. The good news is that honest sellers who