06/05/2025 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Guardianship, Immigration, International Family Law, International Travel, Relocation, Shared Residency, Views of the Child armed conflict, best interests of child, children's act, constitutional principle, cross-border custody, deportation, expert evidence, family support, gender considerations, geopolitical factors, High Court Johannesburg, immigration status, International Relocation, Israel conflict, Jackson v Jackson, joint parenting, Judicial Discretion, military conscription, neutral approach, Parental Responsibilities, relocation criteria, safety concerns, Section 28 Constitution, Senyatsi J, South African Family Law, T.R.S.T v U.A.R, value-judgment “Best Interests Prevail: Court Rejects Child Relocation to War-Torn Israel in T.R.S.T v U.A.R and Others (019086/2023) [2025] ZAGPJHC 399 (14 April 2025)”. Introduction to T.R.S.T v U.A.R: A Relocation Application to Israel The recent case of T.R.S.T v U.A.R and Others (019086/2023) ZAGPJHC 399 (14 April 2025) presented the Gauteng Division of… READ MORE
20/01/2025 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Curator Ad Litem, Grandparents Rights, Guardianship, International Travel, Relocation, Views of the Child best interests of the child, child welfare, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, children’s rights, co-guardianship, cultural identity, curator ad litem, expert evidence, Family Advocate, family dynamics, family law judgment, financial stability, guardianship, guardianship disputes, high-conflict disputes, JB J v EH B, Judicial Discretion, legal precedent, Legal Representation, LR J and Another case, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, relocation, relocation applications, relocation to Scotland, South African Family Law, stability in family law, supervised contact, supervised reintegration, trust funds Guardianship and Relocation Disputes in Focus: LR J and Another; In Re: JB J v EH B and Others (2024-024281) [2025] ZAGPJHC 11 (14 January 2025. Introduction to the Case: Background and Legal Context The case LR J and Another; In Re: JB J v EH B and Others (2024-024281) ZAGPJHC 11 (14 January 2025) highlights… READ MORE
15/06/2024 Bertus Preller Adoption, Best Interests of the Child, Child Maintenance, Children, Maintenance, Parental Rights 3 June 2024, A25/2024, adoption process, best interests of the child, child protection, child welfare, child-centric approach, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, Constitutional Rights, Contemporary Society, de facto adoptions, duty of support, emotional bond, familial arrangements, Family Law, High Court, informal adoptions, Legal Framework, legal obligations, legal recognition, Legal Technicalities, maintenance obligations, parental care, Parental Responsibilities, R S v J S and Others, South African Law, voluntary assumption, ZAWCHC 83 Embracing the Best Interests of the Child: A Legal Analysis of De Facto Adoptions and Maintenance Obligations in R S v J S and Others (A25/2024) [2024] ZAWCHC 83 (3 June 2024). Factual Matrix and Procedural History: A Comprehensive Overview of R S v J S and Others (A25/2024) ZAWCHC 83 (3 June 2024) The judgment of R S v J S… READ MORE
20/05/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Guardianship, Parental Rights, Procedural Law, Procedure, Schooling abuse of process, best interests of the child, biological parents, care and contact, child contact, Child Custody, children's act, consanguinity, costs order, court's discretion, Family Advocate, M M v N M and Others, minor child, Mukaddam v Pioneer Foods, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, third-party rights, Uniform Rule 6(12)(b), urgent applications The Limits of Third-Party Rights in Child Contact: P.D and Another v A.R and Another (D779/2023) [2024] ZAKZDHC 27 (17 May 2024). Background of the case The case of P.D and Another v A.R and Another (D779/2023) ZAKZDHC 27 (17 May 2024) involved an unusual set of facts. The applicants, who were… READ MORE
26/02/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Antenuptial Contracts, Child Maintenance, Children, Costs, Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance accrual system, Asset Division, best interests of children, child maintenance, Court Decisions, court ruling, Divorce, divorce litigation, Equality of Arms, equitable distribution, Family Court, Family Law, financial disparity, Financial Disputes, interim relief, Legal Costs, legal obligations, legal principles, Legal proceedings, Legal Representation, maintenance determination, marital breakdown, marital standard of living, matrimonial assets, Parental Responsibilities, Rule 43, South Africa, spousal maintenance, Uniform Rules of Court Deciphering Divorce: A Rule 43 Ruling on Maintenance and a Contribution to Legal Costs – M Q v V S (0221062023) 2024 ZAGPJHC 188 (23 February 2024). Introduction to the Application for Maintenance and Legal Contributions In this Rule 43 application the court was presented with an intricate application concerning the financial sustenance and legal cost contributions… READ MORE
22/02/2024 Bertus Preller Children, Guardianship, Parental Rights, Same Sex Couples adoption, best interests of the child, child care, child development, child protection, child welfare, child-centric approach, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, Contact rights, Court Rulings, custody rights, emotional well-being, Family Court, family dynamics, Family Law, family structures, foster care, guardianship application, Guardianship Rights, Legal Framework, Legal precedents, legal standing, non-biological guardianship, Parental Responsibilities, psychological assessments, psychological bonds, R.C v H.S.C, stepparent rights, visitation rights Expanding Family Boundaries: Navigating Non-Biological Guardianship Rights – R.C v H.S.C (A5033/22) [2023] ZAGPJHC 219; 2023 (4) SA 231 (GJ). 1. Introduction In this case the High Court delved deeply into the intricacies of guardianship, contact, and care rights under the Children's Act, with a keen focus on the welfare… READ MORE
05/02/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Children, Costs, Divorce, Parental Rights, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance bonding therapy, child best interests, child care, Child Custody, Children's Welfare, contact arrangements, contribution to costs, court order, court rulings Rule 43, divorce proceedings, Family Court, family dynamics, Family Law, family law analysis, family law disputes, financial responsibilities, forensic assessment, interim maintenance, judicial fairness, Legal Analysis, legal contributions, Legal Costs, Legal proceedings, legal strategies, maintenance contribution, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, primary residence, South African Family Law, T E v V E, Von Ludwig AJ Navigating Family Dynamics: A Comprehensive Analysis of a Rule 43 Application. – T E v V E (2023/021747) [2024] ZAGPJHC 94 (2 February 2024). Introduction: The Complexity of Rule 43 Applications Rule 43 applications serve as a pivotal yet challenging facet of divorce proceedings, offering a singular affidavit to each litigant to encapsulate a… READ MORE
02/02/2024 Bertus Preller Children, Parental Rights, Relocation, Views of the Child child welfare, Children's Best Interests, Children's Welfare, children's act, Constitutional Rights, court decision, cross-border parenting, custody arrangements, emotional stability, family court decisions, family dynamics, Family Law, family relocation, international custody, international move, judicial considerations, Legal Analysis, Legal Framework, legal guidance, Legal precedents, Legal Strategy, minor children relocation, parental consent, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, relocation cases, shared parenting, travel consent, visitation rights Navigating Family Dynamics: Granting Relocation Orders for Minor Children’s Best Interests. – H F v P F ; In Re: E F and Others (2022/028593) [2024] ZAGPJHC 88 (31 January 2024). Introduction to the Interim Removal Application for Minor Children On 21 June 2023, NDLOKOVANE AJ delivered a pivotal order addressing the contested interim removal of three minor children, aged 14,… 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
23/01/2024 Bertus Preller Arrears, Children, Contempt of Court, Divorce, Guardianship, Maintenance, Marriage, Parental Rights Adherence to Court Orders, Attorney and Client Costs, Child's Welfare, Child's Best Interests, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, Constitutional Violation, Contact rights, Contempt of Court Orders, Court Directives, Custodial Sentence, Emotional Strain, Gauteng High Court, Justice Phahlane, Legal Practitioners' Duty, Legal Recourse, Legal System Integrity, maintenance obligations, minor child, Mosopa Order, non-compliance, Parental Responsibilities, Parental Rights, Psychological Impact, Repeated Defiance, Rule of Law, Separation, South African Legal Framework, Urgent Application, Voster Order Justice Prevails: A Landmark Twelve-Month Sentence Upholding the Child’s Best Interests. – B.M.G.S v M.B.S and Others (26675/2022) [2024] ZAGPPHC 24 (8 January 2024). Introduction In this case presided over by Justice Phahlane, the applicant, Mr. S, approached the Gauteng High Court on an urgent basis. The case centred around the contempt of two… READ MORE