08/06/2024 Bertus Preller Customary Law, Customary Marriages, Divorce, Procedural Law Acting Judge Kunju, civil marriage, confirmatory affidavits, conflicting evidence, cross-examination, customary marriage, disclosure, emotional distress, factual disputes, honesty, invalidity, just and expeditious resolution, legal consequences, lobola negotiations, MEC for Health: Eastern Cape v Mbodla, null and void, oral evidence, prior marriage, proprietary rights, reliable evidence, Rule 6(5)(g), Traditional Leader, Uniform Rules of Court, Utsiki ceremony Unravelling the Complexities of Customary Marriage: An Analysis of S.B v B.B and Another (6014/2022) [2024] ZAECMHC 45 (4 June 2024) by Acting Judge Kunju. The Complexity of Proving the Existence of a Prior Customary Marriage In the case of S.B v B.B and Another (6014/2022) ZAECMHC 45 (4 June 2024), the court grappled with… READ MORE
08/06/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Divorce, Domicile, Jurisdiction, Maintenance, Muslim Marriages, Procedural Law, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance Acting Judge Wathen-Falken, Cheshire's Private International Law, conflicts of law, Covid-19, cross-border divorce, Divorce Act 70 of 1979, domicile, domicile of choice, flexible living arrangements, foreign divorce orders, Glen v Glen, interim relief, jurisdiction, legal professionals, lis pendens, Massey v Massey, matrimonial disputes, private international law, remote work, reportable judgment, residence, Rule 43 applications, S.W v S.W, South African divorce law, specialized legal advice Navigating the Complexities of Cross-Border Divorce: An Analysis of the Reportable Judgment in S.H-K v R.K (6170/2023) [2024] ZAWCHC 1 by Wathen-Falken AJ. The Complexities of Divorce Proceedings Across International Borders The case of S.H-K v R.K (6170/2023) ZAWCHC (06 May 2024) highlights the intricacies and challenges that arise when divorce proceedings span… READ MORE
20/05/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Guardianship, Parental Rights, Procedural Law, Procedure, Schooling abuse of process, best interests of the child, biological parents, care and contact, child contact, Child Custody, children's act, consanguinity, costs order, court's discretion, Family Advocate, M M v N M and Others, minor child, Mukaddam v Pioneer Foods, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, third-party rights, Uniform Rule 6(12)(b), urgent applications The Limits of Third-Party Rights in Child Contact: P.D and Another v A.R and Another (D779/2023) [2024] ZAKZDHC 27 (17 May 2024). Background of the case The case of P.D and Another v A.R and Another (D779/2023) ZAKZDHC 27 (17 May 2024) involved an unusual set of facts. The applicants, who were… READ MORE
27/04/2024 Bertus Preller Appeal, Divorce, Maintenance, Procedural Law, Review, Rule 43 2019 (6) SA 1 (CC), access to courts, appealability, best interests of the child, constitutionality, contributions towards costs, differentiation, divorce proceedings, equality before the law, Equality of Arms, inherent power, interests of justice, interim care, interim contact, interim matrimonial matters, interim orders, legitimate government purpose, maintenance pendente lite, non-appealability, rationality test, regulate own processes, Rule 43, S v S and Another (Centre for Child Law as Amicus Curiae), section 16(3), Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013, Uniform Rules of Court, urgent relief, variation of order Constitutionality of Barring Appeals Against Rule 43 Orders: S v S and Another (Centre for Child Law as Amicus Curiae) 2019 (6) SA 1 (CC). Introduction: The Facts and Procedural History of S v S and Another The Constitutional Court case of S v S and Another (Centre for Child Law as Amicus Curiae) 2019… READ MORE
23/04/2024 Bertus Preller Appeal, Divorce, In Community of Property, Procedural Law appeal upheld, appealability, compelling discovery, divorce proceedings, doctrine of finality, H.J v P.J, High Court, interests of justice, interlocutory orders, precedent, Rall v Rall, regional court, section 168(3) Constitution, striking off the roll, Superior Courts Act, ZASCA H.J v P.J (285/2023) [2024] ZASCA 55 (19 April 2024): Supreme Court of Appeal Rules on Appealability of Interlocutory Orders in Divorce Proceedings. Divorce Proceedings and Request for Further Particulars in H.J v P.J The case of H.J v P.J (285/2023) ZASCA 55 (19 April 2024) revolves around a divorce dispute between the… READ MORE
08/04/2024 Bertus Preller Costs, Divorce, Procedural Law 2023/123933, 2024, Combined Summons, Condonation, costs order, deviation, Divorce Act 70 of 1979, divorce actions, duty, Gauteng Division, High Court, ineffectual, irregular service, Johannesburg, L.R v T.S, Legal Practitioners, Legal Requirements, misrepresentation, non-compliance, nullity, personal service, Practice Directive, prejudice, prescription, proceedings, Registrar, Sheriff, signature, standard forms, Unopposed Divorce Roll, ZAGPJHC 336 L.R v T.S (2023/123933) [2024] ZAGPJHC 336 (5 April 2024): High Court Emphasises Importance of Personal Service in Divorce Actions. Background and Facts of the Case The Plaintiff, L.R., instituted divorce proceedings against the Defendant, T.S., and set the matter down on the Unopposed Divorce Court roll. The parties had… READ MORE
22/02/2024 Bertus Preller Appeal, Children, Mootness, Parental Rights, Procedural Law, Procedure best interests of the child, child custody appeal, child-centric approach, Children’s Court Randburg, contact order disputes, court's role in child welfare, custody and care arrangements, evolving family law practices, Family Advocate role, family dispute resolution, family law implications, forensic investigation for child's welfare, Gauteng High Court, interdisciplinary approach in custody cases, interim legal orders, judicial discretion in family cases, KA v KN, legal advocacy in custody cases, legal challenges in separation, legal precedents in custody cases, legal principles in custody, legal strategies in family law., mootness in law, new evidence on appeal, paramountcy principle in child law, Parental Rights, procedural norms in appeals, professional legal analysis, South African Family Law Navigating Child Custody Appeals: Insights from: KA v KN (A2023/055189) [2024] ZAGPJHC 147 (21 February 2024) and the Paramountcy of the Child’s Best Interests. In a case heard by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg, an appeal was lodged against a contact order originally granted by the Children’s Court in Randburg.… READ MORE
16/02/2024 Bertus Preller Divorce, Procedural Law, Subpoenas abuse of process, administration of justice, attorney-client privilege, Burden of Proof, Case Law, challenge subpoena, compliance, contempt of court, court rules, dispute resolution, divorce subpoena, document production, evidence gathering, fair trial, judicial interpretation, Legal Disputes, Legal Framework, Legal Practitioners, legal privilege, Legal proceedings, privacy laws, relevance test, rights protection, Rule of Law, setting aside subpoena, South African Law, subpoena ad testificandum, subpoena duces tecum, subpoenas, Uniform Rules of Court, witness testimony Setting Aside a Subpoena in Divorce Proceedings: A Legal Analysis. In the realm of divorce litigation, the issuance and subsequent challenge to a subpoena duces tecum is a critical aspect that can significantly influence the course of proceedings. The purpose… READ MORE
12/02/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Arrears, Children, Divorce, Maintenance, Muslim Marriages, Procedural Law, Rule 43, Spousal Maintenance audi alteram partem, civil marriage, contempt of court, court discretion, COVID-19 impact, divorce proceedings, family law disputes, financial hardship, Gois v Van Zyl, High Court judgement, interim maintenance, legal advice, Legal Costs, legal principles, Legal Representation, maintenance obligations, MEC v Ikamva Architects, procedural missteps, R.A v F.A, rescission application, Rule 43(6) order, Rule 45A, Sharia Law, South African Family Law, Strime v Strime, suspension of maintenance orders, Uniform Rules of Court, Urgent Application, Whitfield v Van Aarde Understanding the Suspension of Maintenance Orders: Insights from – R.A v F.A (14491/2020; 14490/2020; 19594/2021) [2024] ZAWCHC 35 (9 February 2024) – LEKHULENI J. Maintenance Disputes: Navigating Rule 43(6) Orders In the significant legal decision of R.A v F.A, delivered on 9 February 2024 by Lekhuleni J in the Western Cape High Court, the… READ MORE
10/02/2024 Bertus Preller Divorce, Procedural Law, Procedure, Universal Partnership amendment, amendment application, Asset Division, Court Directives, De Klerk v Du Plessis, defence preparation, divorce proceedings, excipiable issues, judicial decision, Judicial Service Commission v Cape Bar Council, legal amendments, Legal Analysis, legal objections, legal practice, Legal precedents, legal ruling, Legal Strategy, litigation, Manyatshe v South African Post Office, non-joinder, particulars of claim, PITMAN AJ, procedural fairness, profit motive, Smith v Conelect, South African Law, special plea, universal partnership Procedural Law – Amending a Particulars of Claim – M-B.F.M v H.P.N.P (5182/2022P) [2024] ZAKZPHC 8 (8 February 2024). Introduction to the Amendment Dispute In a noteworthy case, PITMAN AJ presided over a case that brought to the fore a contentious issue regarding the amendment of the particulars of… READ MORE