06/05/2025 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Guardianship, Immigration, International Family Law, International Travel, Relocation, Shared Residency, Views of the Child armed conflict, best interests of child, children's act, constitutional principle, cross-border custody, deportation, expert evidence, family support, gender considerations, geopolitical factors, High Court Johannesburg, immigration status, International Relocation, Israel conflict, Jackson v Jackson, joint parenting, Judicial Discretion, military conscription, neutral approach, Parental Responsibilities, relocation criteria, safety concerns, Section 28 Constitution, Senyatsi J, South African Family Law, T.R.S.T v U.A.R, value-judgment “Best Interests Prevail: Court Rejects Child Relocation to War-Torn Israel in T.R.S.T v U.A.R and Others (019086/2023) [2025] ZAGPJHC 399 (14 April 2025)”. Introduction to T.R.S.T v U.A.R: A Relocation Application to Israel The recent case of T.R.S.T v U.A.R and Others (019086/2023) ZAGPJHC 399 (14 April 2025) presented the Gauteng Division of… READ MORE
21/02/2025 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Divorce, Family Law Court System South Africa, Joint Decision Making, Mediation, Parental Coordinator, Parental Rights, Views of the Child Australian family law, bias in PCs, Canadian PCs, child best interests, child welfare, child-centric, co-parenting, Court Orders, dispute resolution, divorce mediation, FAMAC, Family Dispute Resolution Bill, Family Law, financial accessibility, H v H, high-conflict disputes, judicial oversight, Legal Framework, legislative reform, mediation reform, NABFAM, parental conflict, Parental Coordinators, parenting coordination, SALRC, Schneider NO, Section 28(2), South Africa, TC v SC, training PCs Uncharted Guardians: The Rise and Reform of Parental Coordinators in South Africa’s Family Law Frontier. Parental Coordinators in South Africa: Legal Framework and Development Parental Coordinators (PCs) have become an essential mechanism in managing high-conflict parenting disputes in South Africa, particularly after divorce or separation.… READ MORE
14/02/2025 Bertus Preller Abduction, Children, Habitual Residence, Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Holiday Travel, International Travel, Views of the Child Article 12 Hague Convention, Article 13(b), best interests of the child, Central Authority of South Africa, child abduction defences, child abduction South Africa, child custody disputes, child protection laws, child return order, curator ad litem, family court judgments, habitual residence, Hague Convention, Hague Convention case law, Hague Convention rulings, Hague Convention South Africa, High Court Johannesburg, international child custody, international custody battles, international family law, international parental disputes, Legal Analysis, legal precedent South Africa, Parental Abduction, parental consent disputes, psychological harm defence, South African child law, South African High Court, wrongful removal Hague Convention Defences Prevail: Court Refuses Child’s Return in Central Authority of South Africa and Another v C.M (2023/077002) [2025] ZAGPJHC 99 (10 February 2025). The Hague Convention and International Child Abduction: A Legal Framework International child abduction cases are among the most complex disputes that courts must resolve, requiring a delicate balance between protecting… READ MORE
20/01/2025 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Curator Ad Litem, Grandparents Rights, Guardianship, International Travel, Relocation, Views of the Child best interests of the child, child welfare, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, children’s rights, co-guardianship, cultural identity, curator ad litem, expert evidence, Family Advocate, family dynamics, family law judgment, financial stability, guardianship, guardianship disputes, high-conflict disputes, JB J v EH B, Judicial Discretion, legal precedent, Legal Representation, LR J and Another case, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, relocation, relocation applications, relocation to Scotland, South African Family Law, stability in family law, supervised contact, supervised reintegration, trust funds Guardianship and Relocation Disputes in Focus: LR J and Another; In Re: JB J v EH B and Others (2024-024281) [2025] ZAGPJHC 11 (14 January 2025. Introduction to the Case: Background and Legal Context The case LR J and Another; In Re: JB J v EH B and Others (2024-024281) ZAGPJHC 11 (14 January 2025) highlights… READ MORE
26/12/2024 Bertus Preller Alienation, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Conduct of Childcare Experts, Holiday Travel, International Travel, Parental Alienation, Parental Rights, Relocation, Views of the Child best interests of the child, child custody relocation South Africa, child psychological impacts relocation, child relocation South Africa, child welfare relocation, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, co-parenting and relocation, F v F, family advocate relocation disputes, family law relocation, Godbeer case, High Court relocation cases, international relocation cases, interprovincial relocation South Africa, Jackson v Jackson, legislative gaps in relocation law, mediation in relocation disputes, parenting plans South Africa, Payne v Payne, relocation disputes South Africa, relocation law reform, shared parental responsibility South Africa, socio-economic factors in relocation, structured relocation checklist, Van Rooyen case Relocation Disputes in South Africa: Balancing the Child’s Best Interests and Parental Rights. Understanding Relocation Disputes and the Best Interests of the Child Relocation disputes arise when a parent wishes to move with a minor child, either within South Africa or internationally, and… READ MORE
12/09/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Alienation, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Divorce, Parental Alienation, Parental Coordinator, Parental Rights, Views of the Child alienating behavior, Child Psychology, child welfare, Child's Best Interests, court intervention, custody disputes, enmeshment, family dynamics, Family Law, legal precedent, parental alienation, psychological assessment, supervised contact, therapeutic intervention Breaking the Cycle: Legal Insights into Parental Alienation in High-Conflict Divorces. Understanding Parental Alienation: Definition and Key Characteristics Parental alienation is a complex psychological phenomenon that can emerge in high-conflict divorce or separation cases, often with devastating consequences for families. It… READ MORE
13/08/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Parental Rights, Procedure, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance, Views of the Child Redefining Rule 43: M.M v R.O (6296/2022) [2024] ZAWCHC 203 Reshapes South African Family Law, (13 August 2024). Background: A Complex Web of Family and Financial Affairs The recent case of M.M v R.O (6296/2022) ZAWCHC 203 (13 August 2024) presents a intricate tapestry of family dynamics, financial… READ MORE
13/08/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Family Law Court System South Africa, Grandparents Rights, Mediation, Parental Rights, Procedural Law, Urgency, Views of the Child Alternative Dispute Resolution, bereavement, best interests of the child, child access, Child Custody, child law, child welfare, children's act, Court Procedures, extended family rights, Family Court, family disputes, Family Law, family relationships, grandparents' rights, Judicial Discretion, legal delay, legal precedent, Legal Procedures, legal urgency, Mediation, parental death, procedural requirements, Self-Created Urgency, South African Law, Urgent Application, urgent court roll, Western Cape High Court Urgency Dismissed in Grandparents’ Access Case: E.S and Others v P.S and Another (16138/24) [2024] ZAWCHC 201 (12 August 2024). Background: A Family's Struggle for Contact After Tragedy In the heart-wrenching case of E.S and Others v P.S and Another (16138/24) ZAWCHC 201 (12 August 2024), the Western Cape High… READ MORE
08/08/2024 Bertus Preller Abuse, Adversarial Legal System, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Domestic Violence, Holiday Travel, International Travel, Relocation, Views of the Child best interests of child, child welfare, children's act, co-parenting, court order, custody rights, Divorce, Family Advocate, Family Court, Immigration Act, international travel, judicial interpretation, Legal Guardianship, minor's travel, parental consent, Parental Rights, parenting plan, South African Law, travel regulations Navigating Parental Consent for International Travel: Insights from J.S v R.S (4146/24) [2024] ZAWCHC 199 (2 August 2024) Background: A Battle Over Holiday Travel with a Minor Child In the recent Western Cape High Court case of J.S v R.S (4146/24) ZAWCHC 199 (2 August 2024), Acting Justice… READ MORE
02/06/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Curator Ad Litem, Divorce, Guardianship, Parental Rights, Relocation, Views of the Child AR v BMR, best interests of the child, best practices, care and contact disputes, challenges, Child Participation, child-centered approach, children's rights, children's act, civil matters, Constitution, Court Proceedings, curator ad litem, family justice system care and contact, Family Law, independence, Legal Ethics, Legal Representation, objectivity, South Africa The Crucial Role of Curators Ad Litem in Protecting Children’s Interests in South African Care and Contact Matters. Introduction The appointment of a curator ad litem in legal matters involving the care and well-being of children has become increasingly important in ensuring that the best interests of the… READ MORE