Questions for lawyers Found 360

I paid a repairer a hefty amount to fix my dishwasher. It broke down again within days, and the repairer said the new fault was unrelated and wanted another call-out fee. I feel the job was done poorly. Do I have any rights when the goods are not the problem but the service is?

I am a foreign national and I am considering buying a home in New Zealand as an investment or for future use. A colleague says that there is a ban on foreign buyers. What are the current restrictions?

We are considering taking our nine-year-old out of school to teach them at home. Neither of us is a qualified teacher. Do we need permission from the Ministry, and how does the government check that the education is adequate?

I paid a freight forwarder to arrange shipment of goods overseas, and the consignment vanished somewhere along the route. The forwarder’s terms say its liability is capped at a very low amount. Can they really limit what I can claim?

My mother told us before she died that she wanted to be cremated and have her ashes scattered at a particular place, but some family members disagree and want a burial instead. Are her wishes legally binding on us?

My visitor visa expired months ago and I have stayed on, working casually. I am afraid to go out because I might be caught, but I would like to sort out my situation and, if possible, remain in New Zealand. What options do I have?

I burned garden waste and some old timber in my back yard in a suburban area. A neighbour complained and the council sent me an infringement fine. I did not think open burning was a big deal. Is that legal?

A former business partner is about to use my confidential customer list to set up a competing business, and I think he will start within days. Waiting for a full trial will be too late. Is there a way to stop him quickly?

I have traded under my business name for years, but never registered it as a trade mark. A new competitor started using a very similar name in my area and customers are getting confused. Can I stop them?

I have agreed to be the executor for a friend’s estate. I want to do a good job, but I am worried about getting something wrong and being personally liable. What exactly is expected of me? Nobody has given me a straight answer and I want to understand where I actually stand.