12/11/2024 Bertus Preller Antenuptial Contracts, Antenuptial Contracts, Costs, Divorce, Marital Regimes, Procedural Law, Procedure Antenuptial Contract, attorney misconduct, caveat subscriptor, civil procedure, court costs, divorce proceedings, elderly marriage, explanatory affidavits, factual disputes, legal documents, legal presumptions, legal signatures, legal trust, marriage law, matrimonial disputes, matrimonial property, motion application, motion proceedings, notary, oral evidence, personal relationships, Plascon-Evans rule, professional conduct, property regime, Rule 6(5)(g), signing documents, South African Law, wedding gift, wedding MC, Western Cape High Court From Wedding MC to Legal Emergency: How a Rushed Signature Led to a Marriage Property Crisis – B C B v L L B and Others (15788/2024) [2024] ZAWCHC 206 (11 November 2024). The Marriage and the Disputed Antenuptial Contract - A 90-Year-Old Groom and His 60-Year-Old Bride In a remarkable case that recently came before the Western Cape High Court, a marriage… READ MORE
24/08/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contracts, Antenuptial Contracts, Commencement Values, Division of Estate, Divorce, Pacta sunt servanda, Prenuptial Afreement accrual claims, accrual system, antenuptial agreements, Antenuptial Contracts, asset valuation, commencement values, conclusive proof, court judgments, divorce litigation, divorce proceedings, Family Law, financial disclosure, financial transparency, forensic accountants, Legal Framework, legal interpretation, Manelis case, matrimonial assets, Matrimonial Property Act, matrimonial property law, Maxted v Maxted, Olivier v Olivier, prima facie proof, property settlements, Section 6, South African Law, spousal maintenance, Thomas v Thomas, TN v NN Accurate Commencement Values in Antenuptial Contracts: Legal Interpretations and Implications Explored in TN v NN and Others 2018 (4) SA 316 (WCC). The Purpose and Role of Commencement Values in Antenuptial Contracts Commencement values play a crucial role in the implementation of the accrual system in South African matrimonial property law. As… READ MORE
25/07/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contracts, Appeal, Divorce, Pacta sunt servanda, Procedural Law, Procedure, Settlement agreements accrual system, appealable order, civil procedure, client advice, client communication, common mistake, contract law, divorce settlement, Family Law, judicial interpretation, justus error, legal certainty, Legal Practitioners, professional liability, settlement agreement, South African Law, Supreme Court of Appeal, thorough preparation, variation Legal Pitfalls in Divorce Settlements: B v B [2024] ZASCA 116 (24 July 2024). Warns Practitioners. The Dispute: A Settlement Agreement Under Scrutiny The case of B v B (259/2023) ZASCA 116 originated from a divorce settlement that quickly became contentious after its conclusion. The parties,… READ MORE
12/06/2024 Bertus Preller Antenuptial Contracts, Customary Law, Customary Marriages, Marital Regimes 25007/2022, accrual system, Antenuptial Contract, arbitrary deprivation, black women, civil marriage, community of property, constitutional scrutiny, customary marriage, financially weaker spouses, Gender Equality, JRM v VVC and Another, judicial oversight, legislative reform, Matrimonial Property Act, Matrimonial Property Regime, racial equality, Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, unfair discrimination Protecting the Vulnerable: JRM v VVC and Another (25007/2022) Exposes the Need for Judicial Oversight in Customary Marriage Property Regimes. The Conundrum: Validity of an 'Antenuptial Contract' Concluded Post-Customary Marriage In the recent case of JRM v VVC and Another (25007/2022), the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Pretoria, grappled… READ MORE
22/03/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contracts, Divorce accrual system, Antenuptial Contracts, asset exclusion, B F v R F, contract clauses, Divorce, divorce proceedings, equitable distribution, financial analysis, future assets, High Court Judgment, legal interpretation, legal precedent, legal principles, majority judgment, Marital Assets, matrimonial disputes, matrimonial property, matrimonial regime, minority opinion, Property Division, shareholdings, South African Family Law, spousal rights Deciphering Asset Exclusions in Divorce: The Landmark Case of B F v R F (2017/5018A) [2018] ZAGPJHC 699; 2019 (4) SA 145 (GJ) (2 July 2018) and Its Impact on South African Family Law. Introduction, Key Legal Issue, and Antenuptial Contract Asset Exclusion The case of B F v R F delved into the complex interpretation of an antenuptial contract, specifically focusing on a… READ MORE
22/03/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contracts, Divorce accrual system, Antenuptial Contract, asset calculation, Asset Division, commencement assets, commencement value, contractual terms, court judgment, Divorce, divorce litigation, estate accrual, Estate Valuation, Family Law, Financial Disputes, Legal Analysis, legal interpretation, legal precedent, marital agreements, Marriage Dissolution, matrimonial property, property exclusion, South African Law, spousal rights, T.N v N.G Commencement Values in Divorce: Analysing T.N v N.G (formerly N) and Others (18159/2013) [2018] ZAWCHC 29; 2018 (4) SA 316 (WCC) (12 March 2018) and the Impact on Antenuptial Contract Interpretation in South Africa. Introduction and Facts In the case of T.N v N.G (formerly N) and Others, the Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town presided over a divorce action… READ MORE
26/02/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Antenuptial Contracts, Child Maintenance, Children, Costs, Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance accrual system, Asset Division, best interests of children, child maintenance, Court Decisions, court ruling, Divorce, divorce litigation, Equality of Arms, equitable distribution, Family Court, Family Law, financial disparity, Financial Disputes, interim relief, Legal Costs, legal obligations, legal principles, Legal proceedings, Legal Representation, maintenance determination, marital breakdown, marital standard of living, matrimonial assets, Parental Responsibilities, Rule 43, South Africa, spousal maintenance, Uniform Rules of Court Deciphering Divorce: A Rule 43 Ruling on Maintenance and a Contribution to Legal Costs – M Q v V S (0221062023) 2024 ZAGPJHC 188 (23 February 2024). Introduction to the Application for Maintenance and Legal Contributions In this Rule 43 application the court was presented with an intricate application concerning the financial sustenance and legal cost contributions… READ MORE
20/12/2023 Bertus Preller Antenuptial Contracts, Customary Law, Divorce ante-nuptial contract, civil law, community of property, consent in marriage, court judgment, customary law., customary marriage, Divorce Law, Family Law, High Court ruling, Legal Analysis, legal challenges, legal dispute, legal implications, legal precedent, marital regime, marriage registration, Mashisane v Mhlauli, matrimonial consent, matrimonial property, property rights, RCMA, South African Law, Supreme Court appeal, traditional customs Deciphering Customary vs Civil Marriage in South African Law: An In-Depth Look at Mashisane v Mhlauli (903/2022) [2023] ZASCA 176 (14 December 2023). Court Composition and Hearing The case of Mashisane v Mhlauli was heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal on 8 November 2023, presided over by Justices Mbatha, Mothle, Hughes, Weiner,… READ MORE
10/10/2023 Bertus Preller Antenuptial Contracts, Divorce, Marital Regimes, Marriage accrual system, Antenuptial Contracts, asset redistribution, Bertus Preller, Constitutional Court, Divorce Act, Divorce Attorney Cape Town, Divorce News, Family Law, financial landscape, gender discrimination, legal implications, marital contracts, marriage, Matrimonial Property Act, out of community of property, South Africa Redefining Fairness: How the Constitutional Court’s Landmark Ruling Changes the Financial Landscape of Marriages Out of Community of Property in South Africa. EB (born S) v ER (born B) and Others; KG v Minister of Home Affairs and Others ZACC 32 Introduction On 10 October 2023, South Africa's Constitutional Court delivered groundbreaking… READ MORE
26/09/2023 Bertus Preller Antenuptial Contracts, Customary Law, Divorce, Forfeiture of Benefits, Marriage, Parental Rights, Pension Funds Antenuptial Contracts, Asset Division, Bertus Preller, Counterclaims, Divorce Law, Divorce News, Family Law, Financial Obligations, Legal Pleadings, Marital Regimes, Matrimonial Properties Act, Parental Responsibilities The Art of Pleading in Divorce Cases: A Comprehensive Analysis of a recent South African Judgment. Introduction In a recent case heard by the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria M.M.A.N v J.M.S (40230/2020) ZAGPPHC 675 (11 August 2023) the plaintiff initiated legal action… READ MORE