Questions for lawyers Found 360

I have got a new job and want to leave my current one as soon as possible, but my contract mentions a lengthy notice period and the employer says it will withhold my final pay if I leave early. What are the rules?

A freelance designer created my logo and I paid the invoice in full, but we never signed a contract. Now I want to trade mark it and I have been told I may not actually own it. Is that true? I would like to know what steps I should take next to protect myself.

My daughter received a much lower grade than expected on an NCEA assessment that would affect her university plans. She feels that the marking was inconsistent. Is there a way to challenge the result?

A neglected boat has been anchored in our bay for months, leaking oil and gradually breaking apart. Locals are worried it is a hazard and an eyesore. Who deals with abandoned vessels and can the owner be forced to act?

After a landslip damaged part of our property, I was told that a government body covers natural disaster damage before my private insurer does. I do not understand what is covered and who I should claim from first.

I discovered that my employer has been checking my emails and tracking my location using my work phone, including outside working hours. No one told me. Is this legal and can they use the information against me?

We shipped equipment from overseas to New Zealand by sea and it arrived with visible damage to the packaging and the equipment. The freight forwarder and the shipping line are each pointing to the other. How do we work out who is responsible?

I left university after a year due to personal circumstances, but I borrowed for fees and living costs. Now I am being told that I must repay the loan even though I have no qualification. Is that correct, and are there any exceptions?

My partner and I own our house as joint tenants, and I am wondering what happens to the property when one of us dies. Does it automatically pass to the survivor, or does it form part of the deceased’s estate?

While buying a rural property we discovered that it was once used to store agricultural chemicals and the soil may be contaminated. The seller says it is our problem after settlement. Who is legally responsible for cleanup and what should we do before proceeding?