Family law insights and commentary from the offices of divorce and family law attorney Simon Dippenaar.
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When equal distribution of assets is simply not fair Matrimonial regimes only become relevant when a marriage is dissolved. Marriage out of community of property is a theoretical and legal concept when two people are happily married and sharing their lives. However, if the marriage breaks down and divorce looms, the couple married out of […]
How to keep a late divorce from ruining your life There is a notable difference between divorce in the early years of a marriage and later in life. In the former, spouses tend to grieve the future they had planned together. Aspirations they may have had for buying a bigger house, raising their children together, […]
Protecting children’s best interests As family lawyers, we talk repeatedly about “the best interests of the child”. This is the principle that informs and underpins the Children’s Act and should be the first priority in any divorce where children as involved. It’s reasonable to expect parents to put the best interests of their children before […]
Understanding Rule 33(4) of South Africa’s Uniform Rules of Court If you’ve ever been involved in a court case, you will know how complex the legal system can be. Often multiple issues are involved in a single court case. For example, in divorce proceedings, the decree absolute must be granted, legally dissolving the marriage. But […]
These are the legal and financial implications of lobola which you need to think about before the process Reprinted from iol.com, by Sihle Mlambo and Vernon Pillay – 2024-12-02 Many South Africans may not be aware of the serious and legal ramifications of partaking in the cultural practice of lobola. To be on the safe side, […]
With recent changes to the Divorce Act, what now for Hindu marriage? We’ve written at length about customary marriage and Muslim marriage on this website, and have been pleased to see the evolution of our common law to accommodate diverse cultural and faith practices in South Africa. In June 2022, the Constitutional Court declared several […]
Laws concerning engagement ring ownership vary around the world Regular readers of this blog will know that SD Law likes to keep abreast of legal news from around the world. South Africa is often in the vanguard of progressive legislation, such as our early sanctioning of same-sex marriage. At other times, laws are enacted in […]
What are their legal rights? The nature of families is constantly evolving, with more fluid attitudes about remarriage, same-sex marriage, life partnerships, and blended families prevalent today than in the past. The law is working hard to keep up. What happens when someone who is not a biological parent develops a deep bond with a […]
