08/12/2025 Bertus Preller Accrual system, Clean Break Principle, Cohabitation, Costs, Direct financial contributions, Division of Estate, Divorce, Divorce Act 70 of 1979, EB v ER Constitutional Court, Equitable redistribution, Marriage, Marriage equality, matrimonial asset division, Out of community of property, Procedure, Punitive Cost Orders, Redistribution Claim, Rehabilitative maintenance, Section 7(2) maintenance, Section 7(3) Divorce Act, Section 7(4) contributions, Universal Partnership accrual system, antenuptial contract without accrual, Attorney and Client Costs, Beaumont v Beaumont, clean break principle, cohabitation before marriage, direct financial contributions, domestic partnership, EB v ER Constitutional Court, equitable redistribution, estate valuation disputes, family law redistribution, full court binding precedent, household duties, indirect contributions to estate, matrimonial asset division, Matrimonial Property Regime, out of community of property, Ponelat v Schrephfer, post-separation conduct, redistribution claims, rehabilitative maintenance, section 7(2) maintenance, section 7(3) Divorce Act, section 7(4) contributions, South African divorce law, spousal maintenance, trust asset disclosure, universal partnership Beyond Marriage: 30 Years, 40% Redistribution and the Universal Partnership Principle – E.L.M v L.M (9360/2022P) [2025] ZAKZPHC 127 (5 December 2025). Facts and Matrimonial Background: A 30-Year Relationship The parties in this matter were married out of community of property without the accrual system on 27 March 1999, following a six-year… READ MORE
28/06/2025 Bertus Preller Actio communi dividundo, Appeal, Clean Break Principle, Cohabitation, Divorce, Settlement agreement finality, Settlement agreements actio communi dividundo, alternative access arrangements, clean break principle, contractual interpretation family law, contractual occupation rights, court order variation requirements, deed of settlement breach, domestic violence protection orders, Eastern Cape High Court, Endumeni interpretation principles, factual disputes motion proceedings, finality principle settlement agreements, joint property ownership disputes, matrimonial property arrangements, motion court proceedings, occupation rights conditions, Plascon-Evans principle, post-divorce litigation, post-divorce property disputes, property sale compelling orders, Regional Court appeal, romantic partner cohabitation clause, settlement agreement finality, settlement agreement interpretation Settlement Agreement Interpretation Triumph: J.G.C v G.A.C [2025] ZAECMKHC 44 (13 May 2025) – High Court Overturns Property Sale Order. The Factual Matrix: What Led to the Appeal This appeal arose from a bitter post-divorce property dispute between former spouses who had been married for thirty-five years in community of… READ MORE
21/06/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Divorce, In Community of Property, Maintenance, Spousal Maintenance Asset Division, clean break principle, costs award, court discretion, Divorce Act, divorce settlement, earning capacity, financial planning, financial security, financial vulnerability, Gender Equality, health considerations, holistic approach, Judicial Discretion, legal precedent, life-long maintenance, long-term marriage, Marital Assets, medical aid, pension benefits, permanent maintenance, post-divorce living standards, procedural flexibility, quality of life, rehabilitative maintenance, retirement funds, South African divorce law, spousal support, witness credibility Life-Long Spousal Maintenance Upheld: M.T v E.T (8197/2018) [2024] ZAGPJHC 578 (20 June 2024). Background: A 28-Year Marriage Comes to an End The case of M.T v E.T (8197/2018) ZAGPJHC 578 (20 June 2024) presents a moving tale of a long-term marriage's dissolution and… READ MORE