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
11/03/2024 Bertus Preller Child Maintenance, Children, Divorce, Divorce Statistics, Family Law Court System South Africa, Mediation Access to Justice, Alternative Dispute Resolution, best interests of the child, Child Custody, court backlogs, court efficiency, Divorce, domestic violence, Family Advocate, family court challenges, family law reform, family law research, interim report, judicial training, justice system, Karen Botha, Legal Representation, Mediation, power imbalances, South African family courts, specialization, standardization, unrepresented litigants Dysfunction in South Africa’s Family Law System: Insights from a Groundbreaking Report. – March 2024. Introduction South Africa is renowned for having some of the most progressive family law legislation in the world, including the Children's Act 38 of 2005, the Domestic Violence Act 116… READ MORE
16/12/2023 Bertus Preller Abuse, Adversarial Legal System, Children, Coercive Control, Cohabitation, Counselling, Cultural Abuse, Digital Abuse, Divorce, Emotional Abuse, Financial Abuse, Harrassment, Hostile Family Lawyers, Infidelity, Life Partnerships, Living Together, Marriage, Mediation, Neglect, Physical Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Reasons for Dicorce, Sexual Abuse, Spiritual Abuse, Verbal Abuse Amazon, Apple Books, Bertus Preller, communication skills, Conflict Resolution, couple counseling, couple therapy, divorce lawyer, emotional intelligence, Family Law, healthy marriage, legal expertise, love and relationships, marital guidance, marriage advice, matrimonial advice, navigating relationships., partnership tips, psychological insights, relationship book, Relationship Challenges, relationship dynamics, Relationship Guide, relationship maintenance, relationship resilience, relationship strategies, self-help, Takealot, The Unexpected Counsellor, understanding love The Unexpected Counsellor – A Divorce Lawyer’s Strategies to Navigate Love and Avoid Heartbreak. About the Book In the intricate dance of relationships, where every step counts and every misstep matters, Bertus Preller's latest book, "The Unexpected Counsellor," emerges as a beacon of wisdom… READ MORE
15/10/2023 Bertus Preller Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Mediation, Rule 43, Spousal Maintenance divorce proceedings, Financial contributions, Financial discrepancies, Household expenditures, Inflated claims, interim maintenance, Legal Costs, Legal precedents, Lump sum claims, Marital Assets, Medical coverage, Monthly expenses, Property access, Rule 43, Travel expenses Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Rule 43 Applications: Insights from a Divorce Case Deep Dive for Legal Practitioners K.F v M.F (10237/2037; 4001/2023) ZAWCHC 253 (13 October 2023) The Facts The was an application in terms of Rule 43 of the Uniform Rules of Court, focusing on interim… READ MORE
13/10/2023 Bertus Preller Alternative Dispute Resolution, Children, Divorce, Mediation Adversarial System, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Client Relationships, Cultural Barriers, Dispute Handling, Emotional Drivers, Family Law, Financial Incentives, Lawyer Resistance, Legal Education, Legal Practices, Mediation, Quality Assurance, South Africa The Need for a Paradigm Shift in Family Law Practice. Redefining the Role of Lawyers: The Untapped Potential of Mediation in Family Law. The acronym 'ADR' often evokes a sense of dread among lawyers, interpreted not as 'Alternative Dispute Resolution' but as an "Alarming Drop in Revenue." However, this need not be the… READ MORE