Family law insights and commentary from the offices of divorce and family law attorney Simon Dippenaar.
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File Picture: African News Agency A customary marriage one simply walked away from years ago without dissolving it through a divorce remains valid even after death. Such a marriage cannot also be rendered invalid because an estranged spouse went ahead and entered into a civil marriage with another person. Instead, it is the civil marriage […]
Court grants unmarried fathers the right to give a child their surname Names, especially surnames, have a huge significance in society. Your name is your identity. More and more women opt to retain their own name on marriage, because adopting the husband’s name is a form of social statement: “My identity is now the wife […]
What is the average retainer fee for a divorce lawyer? Generally, the average retainer fee for a divorce lawyer should cover a number of hours so that the law firm can schedule and prioritise a new case. We recommend that you budget 10 to 20 hours as a start. The actual hourly rate will depend […]
What is the divorce process in South Africa? The divorce process in South Africa is outlined in the Divorce Act, among other applicable laws. Essentially, one has to sue to get divorced. To sue for divorce one must first determine which court has jurisdiction to hear your matter. You must approach the court of […]
A Conversation with Martin Butcher of Jacobowitz & Gubits During the coronavirus pandemic, co-parenting requires an extra degree of thoughtfulness and flexibility. The goal for parents should be to provide stability and normality for children in an unstable environment. On March 16, the New York State court system was closed to all but essential functions […]
It is important to have a holistic view of your entire balance sheet before making a decision. Due to my divorce, my former spouse was paid an amount of R182 726.25, which is debt on my pension with the amendment to Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) law, which institutes the clean-break principle in respect of […]
Important news for divorced parents Children of separated or divorced parents will now be allowed a once-off move to different metropolitan areas, district municipalities or provinces, provided they meet certain legal requirements. Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu made the announcement during a briefing on Monday, adding that the regulations which pertain to the movement […]
Lockdown doesn’t mean life is on hold The past six weeks have been a testing time, both for our nation and for us as individuals. We’ve written before about the effects on relationships of being confined with no outside contact for an extended period. Some will survive, some will thrive, others will go to the […]
