A parent’s obligation to financially maintain their children does not stop once the child turns 18, but continues until the child is no longer financially dependent on the parent, the court remarked after a father claimed he no longer needed to pay maintenance towards his now over 18-year-old child. Reprinted from iol.co.za, by Zelda Venter […]
What protection does the law offer to life partners? South Africa post-1994 has a track record of progressive thinking regarding relationships and the law. We were one of the first countries in the world to recognise same-sex marriage. Couples who prefer to marry according to traditional cultural laws can do so with the full blessing […]
The importance of cultural sensitivity Child care and contact is always a delicate matter in any divorce case, involving bargaining, compromise, high emotional investment and, sometimes, considerable conflict. If one parent decides to relocate to another country after divorce, the negotiations can be even more fraught and complex. Sometimes international relocation will be in pursuit […]
Post-pandemic trends in technology and family law Many things changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some practices we were all glad to see end, such as wearing face masks and needing proof of a negative test result before air travel. But some behaviours were introduced that have become mainstream, such as working from home and virtual […]
We’ve been following the Women’s Legal Centre Trust v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others (2022) case since the beginning, and have written extensively on the Divorce Amendment Bill, which will grant women in Muslim marriages the same rights on divorce as their compatriots in conventional unions. Although the Bill was signed […]
Innovative financial strategies in divorce Divorce is a complex and emotional process, especially when it comes to dividing finances and assets. A settlement perceived as fair by both parties lets them move forward with financial stability and without smouldering resentment. But asset division is rarely a smooth process, even in marriages in community of property […]
Soft skills are vital in a divorce lawyer Divorce is never a pleasant experience, however amicably the spouses may hope to approach the process. When there are minor children involved, the divorce can become contested, because emotions run riot and parents are unable to resolve their differences calmly and reasonably – and out of court. […]
Prioritising children’s well-being Reprinted from Rising Sun – 2024-07-03 In South Africa, recent changes to the High Court and Regional Court rules require parties to indicate whether they have attempted mediation, are prepared to do so, or refuse mediation with reasons provided before initiating divorce actions. Child-centred Divorce Month, observed annually in July, aims to […]
