04/08/2025 Bertus Preller Abuse of Process, Alimony, Anti-Dissipation Interdicts, anti-dissipatory relief, Child Maintenance, Children, Divorce, International Divorce, Maintenance, Procedural Law, Spousal Maintenance abuse of process, anti-dissipatory interdict, asset dissipation, asset protection, balance of convenience, Bassani Mining, bona fide expenditure, child maintenance, Colombian marriage law, cost orders, cross-border divorce, divorce proceedings, Family Law, foreign matrimonial regime, Hemiparesis disability, intention requirement, interim interdict, international divorce, jurisdictional requirements, Knox D'Arcy test, KSL v AL, mala fide conduct, matrimonial law, prima facie right, procedural pitfalls, spousal maintenance, urgent applications, Western Cape High Court Title: When Cross-Border Divorces Meet Anti-Dissipatory Interdicts: Intention, Abuse of Process and the Knox D’Arcy Test in T.S v J.V.C.P and Another (20783/24) [2025] ZAWCHC 325 (1 August 2025). Factual Matrix: A Cross-Border Marriage in Crisis This case presents the complexities that arise when a marriage governed by foreign law encounters the South African legal system during dissolution proceedings.… READ MORE
31/07/2025 Bertus Preller Accomodation, Financial Disclosure, Maintenance, Procedure, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Rule 58, Variation Rule 43(6) child custody interim, child support interim, contempt of court, custody arrangements, divorce attorneys, divorce legal costs, divorce litigation, divorce mediation, divorce proceedings, divorce South Africa, family court procedures, family law South Africa, Family Lawyers, High Court rules, interim maintenance, interim orders, interim relief applications, Legal Separation, maintenance court, maintenance enforcement, maintenance variation, marital dissolution, matrimonial law, matrimonial relief, Pendente Lite, Rule 43, separation maintenance, spousal maintenance, spousal support, temporary alimony Rule 43 Explained: The Complete Guide to Interim Divorce Relief and Maintenance in South Africa. Legal Framework and Purpose of Rule 43 Rule 43 of the Uniform Rules of Court provides an expeditious mechanism for interim relief in matrimonial matters pending the finalisation of a… READ MORE
03/07/2025 Bertus Preller Customary Law, Customary marriage requirements, Customary Marriages, Marriage registration, Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, Section 8 RCMA, Traditional marriage validity accrual system, African marriage, ante-nuptial contract, civil law, civil marriage, community of property, cultural marriage, customary law, customary marriage, Deeds Office, Family Law, legal concessions, Limpopo High Court, lobola, marital property, Marriage Act, marriage certificate, marriage disputes, marriage regimes, marriage validity, matrimonial law, matrimonial regimes, Property Division, Recognition of Customary Marriage Act, Rule 33, spousal property rights, stated case, traditional marriage, wedding ceremonies When Spouses Cannot Agree on Their Marriage Regime: L.M.P v N.J.D.P (Appeal) (HCAA33/2024) [2025] ZALMPPHC 122 (19 June 2025) and the Impossibility of Concurrent Matrimonial Systems. Factual Matrix: When Spouses Disagree on Their Marriage Regime The dispute in this matter exemplifies a peculiar but increasingly common phenomenon in South African family law where spouses find themselves… READ MORE
12/06/2025 Bertus Preller Costs, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Rule 58, Spousal Maintenance, Variation Rule 43(6) Access to Justice, accrual system, banking statements, business interests, close corporation income, costs orders, court discretion, credit facilities, Divorce Act, divorce costs, divorce proceedings, evidence requirements, Family Law, financial disclosure, financial means assessment, High Court Judgment, inadequate disclosure, interlocutory applications, legal contribution, legal costs contribution, legal representation funding, litigation funding, material change circumstances, matrimonial law, matrimonial litigation, patrimonial benefits, Property Valuation, Rule 43 applications, spousal maintenance, uniform rules court Rule 43 Applications Dismissed: Financial Disclosure Failures Sink Litigation Funding Bid in J VW v P C VW (EL 514/2025) [2025] ZAECELLC 8 (27 May 2025). The Facts The parties were involved in a divorce action with patrimonial benefits and the accrual system being central issues. Before the court was an application for a further contribution… READ MORE
25/02/2025 Bertus Preller Customary Law, Customary Marriages, Divorce, Islamic Law, Maintenance, Muslim Marriages, Rule 43, Rule 58, Spousal Maintenance AM v RM case, constitutional family law, custody disputes, Divorce Amendment Act 1 of 2024, divorce case law, divorce legislation, divorce maintenance, divorce proceedings, Essop v Haffejee case, interim relief, Islamic divorce, Islamic law in South Africa, judicial oversight, Legal Jurisdiction, legal precedent, Legal Protections, matrimonial disputes, matrimonial law, Muslim Marriage, Muslim spouses, Muslim women rights, religious divorce, Rule 43, SJ v SE case, South African divorce law, South African Family Law, South African High Court, spousal maintenance, Talaaq, Zaphiriou case South African Court Rules on Talaaq and Rule 43 Interim Relief in Divorce – H.A v N.A (144907/2024) [2025] ZAGPPHC 121 (13 February 2025). Introduction: A Landmark Case on Muslim Marriages and Rule 43 The case of H.A v N.A (144907/2024) ZAGPPHC 121 (13 February 2025) addresses a significant legal question concerning the 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
24/05/2024 Bertus Preller Counselling, Divorce, Divorce Statistics, Infidelity, Marriage, Reasons for Dicorce active listening, Bertus Preller, communication breakdown, Divorce, divorce lawyer, emotional support, Everyone’s Guide to Divorce and Separation, Family Law, infidelity, infidelity types, James Sexton, Lex Fridman, love, love impermanence, marriage, matrimonial law, modern love, Navigating Relationships, podcast insights, rebuilding trust, relationship advice, Relationship Challenges, relationship resilience, romantic expectations, social media impact, soulmate myth, South Africa, The Diary of a CEO, The Unexpected Counsellor Navigating the Complexities of Love, Marriage, and Divorce: Insights from America’s Top Divorce Lawyer, James Sexton. Introduction As a divorce lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in South Africa, I found listening to James Sexton's discussions on The Diary of a CEO and Lex… READ MORE
09/02/2024 Bertus Preller Costs, Division of Estate, Divorce, In Community of Property, International Divorce, International Divorce, Liquidator, Marital Regimes, Procedural Law Antenuptial Contract, Bertus Preller, cross-border marriage, divorce proceedings, expert evidence, F. Bezuidenhout AJ, financial disclosure, foreign marriage, full disclosure, immediate division, international private law, landmark case, legal precedent, legal principles, Lex Domicilii Matrimonii, matrimonial consequences, matrimonial disputes, matrimonial domicile, matrimonial law, matrimonial property, Matrimonial Property Act, MPA, new case, new judgement, procedural law, Rule 36(9), Rule 43 applications, South African Law, Substantive Law Deciphering L.E v L.A (1884/2018) [2024] ZAGPJHC 104 (9 February 2024): A Landmark Case on Foreign Marriages and South African Property Law. – 9 February 2024. Introduction to the Case In a landmark decision that navigates the intersection of matrimonial law and international private law, the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, was presented… 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
10/01/2024 Bertus Preller Divorce, Separation Applications Asset Division, court decision, divorce case study, divorce ruling, fair judgement, Family Law, financial disclosure in divorce, High Court ruling, Judge Thulare, Legal Analysis, legal precedent, Legal proceedings, legal strategy in divorce, matrimonial dispute, matrimonial law, matrimonial relief, Rule 33(4), Rule 43, separation application, South African Law, spousal maintenance, Uniform Rules of Court, urgent divorce application Judge Thulare’s Insightful Ruling on a Separation Application and Fairness in M.V v E.V (nee VS) [2023] ZAWCHC 330 – Divorce Case. – (14 December 2023). BACKGROUND Marriage and Family: The parties, M.V (applicant) and E.V (respondent), were married on 21 October 1995 under an antenuptial contract excluding the accrual system. They had two children, with… READ MORE