Rochelle Crossman Family Law Barrister

04/05/2026

I’ve had clients with this precise issue upon separation. “Get legal advice” is good advice.

01/05/2026

I feel very lucky to work alongside some genuinely great family law colleagues here in Dunedin.

I put the call out recently for sponsorship for Relay for Life and (foolishly) promised that if I hit my target, I’d do a Zumba routine on stage in front of the whole stadium.

Well… my colleagues took me at my word and it looks like I’ll be dusting off my moves and following through on that promise!

Huge thanks to the colleagues who sponsored me and made this happen - although I'll be cursing all of you when the music starts 😄

• Donna Wingham
• Reid Cooper Gray
• Marks & Worth Lawyers
• Kate.Keddell
• Rose Resolutions Family Law Ltd
• Cilla Dickinson
• Divorce with Dominique Bergel-Grant
• McMillan&Co. Lawyers
• Jannah Stringer
• Jenny Beck Law
• Sasha Dolby
• Plus those anonymous donors - please out yourselves

Relay for Life raises money for important work, and I’m grateful for the support — even if it means embarrassing myself for a good cause.

17/03/2026

08/03/2026

Happy International Women's Day, to all the Women here in Aotearoa, the first country in the world to recognise Women's right to vote!

05/03/2026

I just came across this article by Parenting Coordination NZ. There is very good advice here. If you think it might be helpful for your ex to read this, forward it on, or get a mutual friend to do so.

Introducing a new partner after separation can be one of the most sensitive moments for a family. Even when a relationship feels settled and positive for the adult, children often experience a mix of curiosity, worry, loyalty conflicts, and uncertainty.

05/03/2026

Most mothers will be able to identify with this article. All fathers should read it. When parents separate, it can be hard for mothers to begin to imagine how their kids’ dad will cope, as they have no experience of him carrying any mental load about the kids before. Dads need to be given the opportunity to learn, and the first step is understanding the concept of mental load, and reflecting honestly on how much they did. Once separated, fathers should carry an equal responsibility for all the mental load relating to the children, but most of my clients report that they don’t. Ok dads, now you know about the mental load- time to step up!

If you're responsible for the mental load in your home and feel that burden isn't understood, supported or recognised, this article is for you.

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04/03/2026

I am not doing a lot of Legal Aid work anymore, but I can offer a funding option : JustFund will finance all of your legal fees, with repayment being made when your relationship property settlement occurs. The only up front fee you will need to pay is my $299 initial consult fee, where we can discuss the way forward. Ask me for more details or click here: justfund.co.nz/apply-now

04/03/2026

Thank you for allowing me to help you through this difficult time.

03/03/2026

Tip #5 to keep your legal fees down and free me up to help other clients : Know what your priorities are, so you can give clear instructions. This means thinking about what is important to you and why that is important to you. Your lawyer can better help you if she understands this.
I recommend working with a divorce coach who can help you sort through the dozens of fears and worries and questions you have swirling in your head, and identify which ones your lawyer can help with (because it is not all of them!)

03/03/2026

Tip #4 to keep your legal fees down : If you need to speak with your lawyer (and often phone calls are more efficient than emails back and forth), arrange a time to call rather than calling out of the blue. This ensures your lawyer is available, it avoids playing phone tag, and your lawyer will have your file open in front of them for the conversation.

28/02/2026

Try as I might, I just can’t help giving away free legal advice on my own time… but it’s totally fine if you don’t want to take it!