17/03/2025 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Conduct of Childcare Experts, Costs, Guardianship, Relocation 2025 ZAKZPHC 26, best interests of the child, Child Relocation, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, consent order rejection, Contact rights, court discretion, custody dispute, D.R.R v S.D.R, expert evidence, F v F, Family Advocate, Family Law, High Court South Africa, Johannesburg vs Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Division, legal precedent, Mossop J, parental alienation, Parental Rights, primary care, psychological reports, sibling separation, sibling unity, South African Law, Terblanche v Terblanche, upper guardian, Van der Linde case, ZDE v CE Divided No More: Sibling Unity Triumphs in D.R.R v S.D.R and Another (8947/2022P) [2025] ZAKZPHC 26 (13 March 2025). Background of the Family Dispute In the matter of D.R.R v S.D.R and Another (8947/2022P) ZAKZPHC 26 (13 March 2025), heard in the High Court of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal Division,… READ MORE
27/02/2025 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Costs, Parental Alienation, Procedure, Relocation attorney-client costs, best interests of child, Cape Town High Court, Child Relocation, children's act, co-holder rights, co-parenting decisions, dance education, dance talent, Hermanus relocation, Judge Pangarker, maintenance increase, maintenance variation, material non-disclosure, mediation withdrawal, non-disclosure penalties, Parental Rights, parenting plan, professional assessment, punitive costs order, Rule 6(12), school change dispute, Section 31 Children's Act, Self-Created Urgency, South African Family Law, urgent applications Dance Dreams vs Parental Rights: How Self-Created Urgency Cost a Mother in C.H v L.H (32/2025) [2025] ZAWCHC 11 (23 January 2025). The Facts: Dance Dreams and Relocation Dispute In the recent Western Cape High Court case of C.H v L.H (32/2025) ZAWCHC 11 (23 January 2025), Judge Pangarker was tasked with… READ MORE
26/12/2024 Bertus Preller Abduction, Adoption, Alienation, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Guardianship, Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, International Family Law, International Travel Australian family law, best interests of the child, child abduction, Child Custody, Child Relocation, child welfare, child’s views in family law, children’s act, comparative law, cross-border family disputes, Custody Battles, English family law, Family Advocate, Family Law, family law frameworks, family law reform, family mediation, Fletcher v Fletcher, French family law, Hague Convention, International Child Abduction, joint parental responsibility, legal aid in family law, parental authority, parental responsibility, Parental Rights, relocation disputes, relocation with children, sibling unity, South African Family Law Comparative Analysis: South African, English, Australian, and French Law on Parental Responsibility, Relocation, and Child Abduction. Parental Responsibility South Africa: Governed by Chapter 3 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, parental responsibilities and rights include care, contact, guardianship, and maintenance. These responsibilities are automatic for… READ MORE
01/06/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Conduct of Childcare Experts, Guardianship, Parental Rights, Relocation, Views of the Child best interests of the child, child development, Child Relocation, child's views, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, clinical psychologist, co-parenting, competing interests, counselling psychologist, emotional well-being, expert evidence, Family Law, landmark decision, meaningful relationship, non-relocating parent, Parental Rights, parenting plan, reasonableness of relocation, relocating parent, relocation application, relocation assessment, relocation dispute, relocation factors, relocation hearing, relocation judgment, relocation order, section 28(2) Constitution, shared parenting, urgent relief V.L v F.N (4760/2024) [2024] ZAWCHC 146 (30 May 2024) – A Court Decision in Family Law on Child Relocation. Introduction In the recent case of V.L v F.N (4760/2024) ZAWCHC 146, delivered on 30 May 2024, the Western Cape High Court was faced with a complex and emotionally charged… READ MORE
22/02/2024 Bertus Preller Appeal, Children, Costs, Mootness, Relocation awarding of costs, best interests of the child, child custody appeals, Child Relocation, family court decisions, family law appeals, High Court judgments, legal appeals, legal challenges in relocation, legal disputes over child care, legal implications of relocation, legal precedents in family law, legal strategies in family disputes, maintenance payments and custody, mootness in law, Parental Rights, punitive cost orders, South African Family Law, T.R v S.M Deciphering the Legal Labyrinth: T.R v S.M (035901/2023) [2024] ZAGPJHC 1745 (21 February 2024) and the Intricacies of Family Law Appeals Background In a recent judgment by the Gauteng Local Division of the High Court in Johannesburg, the case between T.R. (Applicant) and S.M. (Respondent) was deliberated. The Applicant sought leave… READ MORE
25/01/2024 Bertus Preller Children, Parental Rights, Relocation 2023 court ruling, best interests of the child, child custody law, Child Relocation, child welfare, child's psychological well-being, court judgment, custody dispute, D.J.H. v A.H, divorce proceedings, Eastern Cape High Court, family advocate report, family law implications, family law judgments, family law precedent, judicial scrutiny, Legal Analysis, legal arguments, legal case review, legal precedent, legal reasoning, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, relocation case study, relocation impact, relocation jurisprudence, relocation opposition, South African Family Law, South African jurisprudence Navigating the Tides of Change: The Intricacies of Child Relocation in D.J.H. v A.H (914/2023) [2023] ZAECMKHC 139, (12 December 2023). – Rugunanan J. Overview of the D.J.H. v A.H Relocation Dispute In the case D.J.H. v A.H (914/2023) ZAECMKHC 139, the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court grappled with a contentious child… READ MORE
20/01/2024 Bertus Preller Children, Divorce, Parental Rights, Relocation A.D.B v B.A.K, best interests of the child, Child Relocation, child welfare, court decision, custodial parent, custody disputes, custody rights, emotional impact, emotional wellbeing, family courts, family dynamics, Family Law, family law principles, International Relocation, Judge Mossop J, judicial decision-making, legal challenges, legal considerations, Legal precedents, non-custodial parent, parent-child relationship, parental consent, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, parenting plan, relocation disputes, South Africa, welfare of the child Navigating the Complexities of Child Relocation Cases in South African Family Law. – A.D.B v B.A.K (15944/22P) [2023] ZAKZPHC 1. – (9 January 2023). The case of A.D.B v B.A.K, presided over by Judge Mossop J, involved intricate family law matters pertaining to the relocation of a minor child. The core issue was the… READ MORE
21/11/2023 Bertus Preller Children, Parental Rights, Relocation, Views of the Child child maintenance, Child Relocation, child welfare, Children's Best Interests, Court Orders, Cross-Continental Relocation, Custodian Parent, Divorce, Dubai, Family Law, International Relocation, Legal Custody, Legal Jurisdiction, Legal precedents, Legal Representation, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, parenting plan, South Africa Navigating International Waters: A South African Family Law Case on Child Relocation to Dubai. – TS v S D D – Case Number: 7389/2023 – 20 November 2023. Holderness AJ INTRODUCTION Application by the Mother: The applicant, the mother of two children, S (15 years old) and K (11 years old), sought several legal reliefs. These included: Permission… READ MORE