23/07/2025 Bertus Preller Abuse, Adultery, Division of Estate, Divorce, Divorce Statistics, Domestic Violence, Forfeiture of Benefits, Infidelity, Marriage accrual, adultery, Andy Byron, Asset Division, assets, B.R.B.M v R.K.B.M, C.M.M v A.M.S.M, community of property, Divorce Act, Divorce Law, Family Court, family law attorney, forfeiture, forfeiture orders, High Court, legal commentary, legal precedent, M v M, marital breakdown, Matyila v Matyila, misconduct, no-fault divorce, patrimonial benefits, public infidelity, section 9(1), South Africa, T.N v S.N, undue benefit, Wijker v Wijker Andy Byron Scandal: Public Infidelity and the Forfeiture of Assets under Section 9(1) of the Divorce Act in South Africa. South African divorce law permits courts to depart from the usual 50/50 division of marital assets in order to prevent an undeserved windfall to a spouse who caused or contributed… 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
11/06/2024 Bertus Preller Divorce, Forfeiture of Benefits asset distribution, Beaumont v Beaumont, community of property, court ruling, Divorce, Divorce Act 70 of 1979, divorce settlement, Family Law, financial support, forfeiture, immovable property, irretrievable breakdown, joint estate, Klerck v Klerck, KT v MR, Legal Framework, Legal precedents, legal professionals, M.C.N v G.M.L.N, maintenance, marital breakdown, matrimonial property, misconduct, paternity, patrimonial benefits, pension fund, primary breadwinner, South Africa, substantial misconduct Breaking Down the M.C.N v G.M.L.N (Born M.) (1629/2022) [2024] ZAGPPHC 516 (7 June 2024) Divorce Case: Forfeiture of Patrimonial Benefits in South Africa. Case Summary In the case of M.C.N v G.M.L.N (Born M.) (1629/2022) ZAGPPHC 516 (7 June 2024) the parties were married in community of property in 2000. The marriage lasted… READ MORE
27/01/2024 Bertus Preller Abuse, Adultery, Coercive Control, Costs, Divorce, Emotional Abuse, Financial Abuse, Forfeiture of Benefits, In Community of Property, Infidelity, Physical Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Reasons for Dicorce Asset Division, asset forfeiture in divorce, court evidence, court judgments, divorce case analysis, Divorce Law, divorce litigation, divorce outcomes, divorce settlements, equitable distribution, extra-marital affairs, family court dynamics, family law case studies, forfeiture, legal implications, Legal proceedings, Legal Strategy, marital breakdown, Marriage Dissolution, matrimonial conduct, matrimonial disputes, patrimonial benefits, personal conduct, physical abuse, protection orders, South African Family Law, spousal allegations, spousal behavior, spouse behavior in divorce Infidelity, Abuse, and Forfeiture: Behind the Gavel – Deciphering the Role of Personal Conduct in Divorce Outcomes in South African Courts. – M.F.B v J.B (5674/2016) [2024] ZALMPPHC 7 (24 January 2024). Background and Claims In the case presided over by Naude-Odendaal J, the Plaintiff M.F.B filed for divorce against the Defendant J.B on 23 November 2016. The Plaintiff sought a decree… READ MORE