09/04/2025 Bertus Preller Alimony, Costs, Divorce, Maintenance, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions accrual system, Acting Judge Pretorius, constitutional rights in divorce, contribution to legal costs, Divorce Litigation Costs, divorce proceedings, duty of support, equality before the law, Equality of Arms, expert fees in divorce, Family Law, financial disclosure, financial non-disclosure, financial transparency, forensic accounting, Gauteng High Court, high net worth divorce, interim maintenance, legal precedent, maintenance pendente lite, matrimonial property, Qatar Airlines pilot, Rule 43 Application, Rule 43 principles, South African divorce law, spousal maintenance, standard of living, stay-at-home spouse High Court Judgment Clarifies Rule 43 Relief in Wealthy Divorces: M.C D.C.R v A.P.W.R (2024 075727) [2025] ZAGPJHC 307 (19 March 2025). Background to the Rule 43 Application: Interim Maintenance Pending Divorce The case of M.C D.C.R v A.P.W.R (2024 075727) ZAGPJHC 307 (19 March 2025) revolves around a Rule 43 application… READ MORE
30/01/2025 Bertus Preller Costs, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Procedural Law, Section 7 Matrimonial Properties Act accrual system, acting justice friedman, asset declaration, Asset Disclosure, beneficial ownership, catch-me-if-you-can principle, company assets, constitutional powers, corporate structures, disclosure obligations, divorce litigation, divorce procedure, divorce proceedings, divorce tactics, financial disclosure, financial transparency, Gauteng High Court, High Court Judgment, interlocutory applications, Judicial Discretion, legal precedent, matrimonial law, matrimonial property, Matrimonial Property Act, Practice Directive, Rule 33(4), Rule 43, section 7 notice, separation application, South African Law, Trust assets Playing Hide and Seek with Assets? High Court Says ‘Game Over!’ – D.M v D.M (2021 043212) [2025] ZAGPJHC 31 (28 January 2025). The Novel Question: When Must a Spouse Comply with a Section 7 Notice? When it comes to financial disclosure in divorce proceedings, some spouses treat their assets like a magician's… READ MORE
20/01/2025 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Anti-Dissipation Interdicts, anti-dissipatory relief, Asset Disclosure, Division of Estate, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Hiding Assets, Maintenance, Procedural Law, Punitive Cost Orders, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Rule 58 Alternative Dispute Resolution, asset dissipation, court enforcement, divorce proceedings, early disclosure, equitable outcomes, Family Law, financial asymmetry, financial disclosure, financial disclosure forms, financial fraud, financial information gap, financial transparency, Gauteng Practice Directive, Gender Equality, Maintenance Act, maintenance disputes, Marital Assets, marital estate, matrimonial property, Mediation, POPI compliance, privacy concerns, procedural reform, South Africa, South African Law Reform Commission, spousal maintenance, Trust assets, uberrimae fidei The Financial Information Gap in Family Law: Addressing Inequities and Reforming Disclosure Practices. The Financial Information Gap: Understanding the Core Problem in Family Law Matters The landscape of family law in South Africa faces a critical challenge rooted in the asymmetrical access to… READ MORE
24/08/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contracts, Antenuptial Contracts, Commencement Values, Division of Estate, Divorce, Pacta sunt servanda, Prenuptial Afreement accrual claims, accrual system, antenuptial agreements, Antenuptial Contracts, asset valuation, commencement values, conclusive proof, court judgments, divorce litigation, divorce proceedings, Family Law, financial disclosure, financial transparency, forensic accountants, Legal Framework, legal interpretation, Manelis case, matrimonial assets, Matrimonial Property Act, matrimonial property law, Maxted v Maxted, Olivier v Olivier, prima facie proof, property settlements, Section 6, South African Law, spousal maintenance, Thomas v Thomas, TN v NN Accurate Commencement Values in Antenuptial Contracts: Legal Interpretations and Implications Explored in TN v NN and Others 2018 (4) SA 316 (WCC). The Purpose and Role of Commencement Values in Antenuptial Contracts Commencement values play a crucial role in the implementation of the accrual system in South African matrimonial property law. As… READ MORE
05/08/2024 Bertus Preller Abuse, Adultery, Adversarial Legal System, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Children, Costs, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Forfeiture of Benefits, Infidelity, Pension Funds, Reasons for Dicorce court discretion, Divorce, Divorce Act, evidence, financial transparency, forfeiture, Gauteng High Court, joint estate, Judge Wanless, legal precedent, litigation, marriage, matrimonial property, pension interest, pleadings, Property Division, South Africa, spousal contribution, substantial misconduct Forfeiture of Benefits in Divorce: Lessons from T.N v S.N (14166/2019) [2024] ZAGPJHC 703 (24 July 2024). Background of the T.N v S.N Divorce Case The case of T.N v S.N (14166/2019) ZAGPJHC 703 (22 July 2024) involves a divorce action heard in the Gauteng High Court,… READ MORE
23/07/2024 Bertus Preller Contempt of Court, Financial Disclosure, Maintenance, Rule 43 contempt of court, Court Order Compliance, divorce proceedings, Family Law, financial transparency, Gauteng High Court, interim order, judicial authority, maintenance payments, mala fides, Rule 43, South African Law, Suspended Sentence, wilful disobedience Contempt of Court in Divorce Proceedings: Lessons from L.M.G V J.M.G (124145/2023) [2024] ZAGPPHC 672 (9 July 2024). The Importance of Obeying Court Orders in South Africa In the recent High Court judgment of L.M.G v J.M.G (124145/2023) ZAGPPHC 672 (9 July 2024), Judge Swanepoel emphasised the critical… READ MORE
24/06/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Child Maintenance, Children, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43, Spousal Maintenance Access to Justice, Bannatyne v Bannatyne, best interests of the child, care and contact arrangements, Cary v Cary, child maintenance, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, cost contribution orders, divorce proceedings, Du Preez v Du Preez, financial disclosure, financial transparency, Gender Equality, high-net-worth divorces, high-stakes divorce, interim maintenance, interim relief, L.E.A v A.J.A, Legal Costs, luxurious lifestyle, Mahikeng, maintenance claims, North-West Division High Court, Rule 43 Application, Section 28 Constitution, South African Law, Taute v Taute, trusts and business interests, WT v KT Balancing Luxury and Justice: High-Stakes Divorce and Child Maintenance in L.E.A v A.J.A (990/2024) [2024] ZANWHC 142 – (21 June 2024). Background: A High-Stakes Rule 43 Application Imagine a prominent business executive, Mr. A.J.A, and his spouse, Mrs. L.E.A, who live a life of luxury in a R25 million home, frequently… READ MORE
09/02/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Divorce, Maintenance, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance assessment of financial needs, clean hands doctrine, court discretion, disclosing financial information, divorce court orders, divorce financial obligations, divorce proceedings, equitable relief, financial deceit in divorce, financial disclosure, financial transparency, honesty in legal proceedings, inheritance disclosure, interim maintenance, interim relief, judicial fairness, legal costs in divorce, Legal Ethics, legal obligations in divorce, legal strategies in divorce, maintenance orders, Marital Assets, marital financial disputes, NZIWENI J, Rule 43 applications, savings disclosure, South African Family Law, spousal support, striking applications, transparency in divorce, Uniform Rules of Court Unlocking Fairness in Divorce: The Critical Role of Full Disclosure in Rule 43 Applications. – C.A v H.A (5578/2022) [2024] ZAWCHC 25 (6 February 2024). Introduction In the case of C.A vs. H.A, brought under Rule 43 of the Uniform Rules of Court, the applicant sought interim maintenance for herself while awaiting the finalisation of… READ MORE
02/02/2024 Bertus Preller Anti-Dissipation Interdicts, Divorce, Hiding Assets AB v JB [2016] ZASCA 93; 2016 (5) SA 211 (SCA), alternative remedies, anti-dissipation interdict, anti-dissipation interdicts, anti-dissipation interdicts in divorce cases, asset dissipation, asset management, asset protection, balance of convenience, Carmel Trading case, Carmel Trading Company Ltd v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Services and Others (447/07) [2007] ZASCA 160; [2008] 2 All SA 125 (SCA); 2008 (2) SA 433 (SCA), Cases on dissipation of assets, concealing assets, Dissipation Interdict, divorce law evolution, divorce proceedings, equitable asset distribution, fair settlements, financial practices, Financial Settlements, financial transparency, interim relief, irreparable harm, judicial process, Knox D’Arcy case, Knox D’Arcy Limited v Jamieson [1996] ZASCA 58; 1996 (4) SA 348 (A), Langebrink v Langebrink 2017 JDR 1059 (GJ) and Gernetzky v Gernetzky [2007] JDR 0247 (E), Legal Framework, legal implications, Legal precedents, Legal Requirements, Mareva injunctions, Marital Assets, matrimonial law, Msunduzi Municipality case, Msunduzi Municipality v Natal Joint Municipal Pension Fund 2007 (1) SA 142 (N), negotiation dynamics, prima facie right, RS v MS 2014(2) SA 511 GSJ, safeguarding assets, SR v DR and Another (2980/2007) [2022] ZAGPJHC 172 Safeguarding Marital Assets: The Crucial Role of Anti-Dissipation Interdicts in Divorce Proceedings. Understanding Anti-Dissipation Interdicts An anti-dissipation interdict is an order that prevents a person from disposing of or concealing assets during divorce proceedings. Unlike Mareva injunctions, which prevent a defendant from… READ MORE
24/11/2023 Bertus Preller Alimony, Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43 Adams J order, Alimony adjustment, child support, Court judgment analysis, divorce proceedings, Family court rulings, financial disclosure, financial transparency, Income reassessment, Legal financial examination, Legal financial scrutiny, legal precedent, Maintenance litigation, Maintenance order change, Maintenance reassessment, Material change in circumstances, Nkutha-Nkontwana J, Rule 43 variation, South African Family Law, spousal maintenance Navigating Financial Disclosure: The Turning Tide in Maintenance Variation Cases – Rule 43(6) – B.W.H v S.A.H (22802/2021) [2023] ZAGPJHC 1348 (21 November 2023). Facts of the Case In this intricate legal matter, a husband (the applicant) sought a retrospective variation of a maintenance order previously issued by Adams J under Rule 43 of… READ MORE