29/08/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Costs, Maintenance, Procedural Law, Procedure, Rule 43 attorney fees, brevity, case management, court efficiency, divorce proceedings, Family Law, interim relief, Judicial Discretion, judicial rebuke, KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Legal Education, Legal Ethics, Legal Practitioners, matrimonial disputes, Mossop J, procedural abuse, prolixity, Rule 43, South Africa Judicial Crackdown on Verbose Rule 43 Applications: S.M v N.M (D6667/2024) [2024] ZAKZDHC 54 – (28 August 2024) The Essence of Rule 43: Brevity and Expediency in Matrimonial Proceedings In the recent High Court judgment of S.M v N.M (D6667/2024) ZAKZDHC 54 (28 August 2024), Judge Mossop delivered… READ MORE
29/06/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Emotional Intelligence, Hostile Family Lawyers active listening, attorney well-being, Child Custody, client advocacy, Client Relationships, client satisfaction, communication skills, Conflict Resolution, courtroom performance, Divorce, emotional awareness, emotional intelligence, empathy, family disputes, Family Law, high-conflict cases, lawyer effectiveness, lawyer-client trust, Legal Education, Legal Ethics, legal outcomes, legal practice management, legal professionalism, Legal Strategy, Mediation, negotiation, professional development, self-regulation, stress management Mastering Emotional Intelligence: The Game-Changer for Family Lawyers. Emotional Intelligence: A Key Skill for Family Lawyers Family law practitioners, despite their best intentions and legal expertise, often fall prey to common pitfalls that can significantly impact their effectiveness… READ MORE
02/06/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Curator Ad Litem, Divorce, Guardianship, Parental Rights, Relocation, Views of the Child AR v BMR, best interests of the child, best practices, care and contact disputes, challenges, Child Participation, child-centered approach, children's rights, children's act, civil matters, Constitution, Court Proceedings, curator ad litem, family justice system care and contact, Family Law, independence, Legal Ethics, Legal Representation, objectivity, South Africa The Crucial Role of Curators Ad Litem in Protecting Children’s Interests in South African Care and Contact Matters. Introduction The appointment of a curator ad litem in legal matters involving the care and well-being of children has become increasingly important in ensuring that the best interests of the… READ MORE
30/04/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Children, Divorce, Hostile Family Lawyers, Maintenance, Settlement agreements attorney behavior, attorney-client relationship, case analysis, child maintenance, conflict resolution in family law, courtroom behavior, D v D, effective dispute resolution, emotive language, ethical practice, family court conduct, Family Law, family law attorneys, High Court Johannesburg, impact of decorum, judicial guidance, judicial opinions, legal decorum, Legal Ethics, legal professionalism, legal representatives, non-hostile conduct, professional behavior, settlement agreement, South African Family Law, strategic legal practice, ZAGPJHC 1688 Encouraging Decorum: The Importance of Non-Hostile Conduct Among Family Law Attorneys in D v D (2021/23816) [2024] ZAGPJHC 1688 (26 April 2024). Introduction In the case of D v D (2021/23816) ZAGPJHC 1688 (26 April 2024), the crux of the matter stemmed from the respondent's decision to issue a writ of execution… READ MORE
17/02/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Arrears, Contempt of Court, Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43 child maintenance, child welfare, contempt of court, court authority, court judgments, court orders compliance, divorce disputes, divorce proceedings, enforcement of court orders, Family Court, Family Law, financial capacity, interim relief, legal advice, Legal Ethics, legal obligations, Legal proceedings, Legal Representation, legal sanctions, Legal Strategy, maintenance orders, matrimonial disputes, matrimonial litigation, non-compliance consequences, parental obligations, paternal grandparents, personal responsibility, Rule 43 Application, South African Law Contempt and Conduct in Divorce Disputes: Navigating the Thin Line Between Legal Obligations and Personal Responsibility. – J.S.H v M.S.H and Others (1308/2024) [2024] ZAWCHC 42 (16 February 2024). Background and Proceedings Initiated The case of J.S.H v M.S.H and Others, heard in the Western Cape High Court on 26 January 2024, under the judgment of Adhikari AJ, arose… 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
15/01/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Costs, Divorce, Hostile Family Lawyers attorney fees, client interests, cost orders, court discretion, divorce proceedings, electronic adjudication, emotional considerations, family law complexities, financial considerations, judicial efficiency, judicial resources, Legal Ethics, legal practice implications, legal practitioner conduct, professional diligence, request for reasons, South African Family Law A Crucial Judgement for Family Law Practitioners: Insights from a Non-Family Law Case: A Critical Analysis of Recent South African Case Law on Legal Practitioner Conduct and Cost Orders. – Strydom and Another v Coomans and Others (M533/2021) [2024] ZANWHC 6 (8 January 2024) In November 2023, the court was presented with a request for reasons pertaining to a judgement made on the 16th of November 2023. This judgement had dismissed an application for… READ MORE
20/12/2023 Bertus Preller Children, Divorce, Guardianship, Parental Rights Child Custody, Children's Best Interests, Constitutional Rights, Court Decisions, Court Orders, divorce proceedings, Family Court, Family Law, Family Law Judgements, Jurisdictional Challenges, Legal Balancing Act, legal case analysis, Legal Costs, Legal Discretion, Legal Ethics, Legal Insights, Legal precedents, Medical Records Disclosure, Parental Duties, Parental Rights, Privacy Rights, Privacy vs Best Interests, South Africa, Therapy Confidentiality, W.B v R.B Balancing Privacy and Children’s Best Interests: Insights from W.B v R.B and Another (D8141/2022) [2023] ZAKZDHC 96 (18 December 2023). Introduction In the case of W.B v R.B and Another, presided over by Henriques J, the court faced a complex interlocutory application. This case, filed under case number D8141/2022 and… READ MORE
21/11/2023 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Alimony, Costs, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43, Spousal Maintenance Affidavit Analysis, Attorney Conduct, child maintenance, Condonation, Constitutional Challenges, Court Rulings, divorce proceedings, Family Law, financial disclosure, interim relief, Legal Ethics, Legal precedents, Legal Procedure, Litigation Tactics, maintenance pendente lite, Procedural Compliance, Prolixity in Affidavits, Rule 30 Challenge, Rule 43 Application, South African High Court Navigating the Complex Waters of Financial Disclosure in Rule 43 Applications and Legal Ethics: A Closer Look at a Landmark Ruling and the Conduct of the Respondent’s Attorney. I P v N P ; In re: N P v I P (16768/2023) ZAWCHC 170 (20 November 2023) Analysis of Rule 30 and Rule 43 Applications Overview of the… READ MORE
24/10/2023 Bertus Preller Children, Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Parental Rights, Rule 43, Views of the Child Bertus Preller, Child Custody, Court Decisions, Divorce Attorney Cape Town, Divorce Attorney South Africa, divorce proceedings, Family Law, Family Lawyers, financial disclosure, High Court, Legal Costs, Legal Diligence, Legal Ethics, legal implications, legal precedent, Legal Procedures, Legal Requirements, maintenance pendente lite, Minor Children, Office of the Family Advocate, Parental Responsibilities, Practice Directives, Rule 43, South Africa, views of the child Setting the Standard: A Comprehensive High Court Judgment on Family Law That Redefines Attorney Conduct and The Views of the Child. C.T v T.E.T (9685/2022) ZAWCHC 262 (13 October 2023) Court and Case Details The case was heard in the High Court of South Africa, Western Cape Division, Cape Town, presided… READ MORE