23/07/2026 Bertus Preller Alimony, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Cohabitation, Costs, Divorce, Financial non-disclosure, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Non-disclosure consequences, Procedural Law, Rule 43, Rule 43 Applications, Rule 43 Contempt, Rule 43 orders, Spousal Maintenance ability to pay, best interests of the child, child maintenance, Divorce Law, divorce proceedings, earning capacity, family law judgment, financial disclosure, financial non-disclosure, full and frank disclosure, H.L v B.L, inflated expenses, interim maintenance, interim relief, legal costs contribution, maintenance claim, Maintenance Order, maintenance pendente lite, marital standard of living, Minor Children, Njokweni J, Rule 43, Rule 43 Application, South African case law, South African Family Law, spousal maintenance, uberrima fides, Western Cape divorce, Western Cape High Court Candour, Children and the Limits of Interim Maintenance: H.L v B.L (2025/216979) [2026] ZAWCHC 350 (13 July 2026). The factual background and the parties’ competing claims In H.L v B.L (2025/216979) ZAWCHC 350 (13 July 2026), the Western Cape High Court was required to determine an application for… READ MORE
03/10/2025 Bertus Preller Alimony, Costs, Divorce, Divorce Amendment Act 2024, Iddah period maintenance, Maintenance, Muslim Marriages, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Rule 43 orders, Spousal Maintenance, Talaq asset redistribution Muslim marriages, capital expenditure maintenance, constitutional parity litigation, costs contribution equality, Discovery medical scheme, divorce action mootness, Divorce Amendment Act 2024, hyperthyroidism treatment costs, iddah period maintenance, interim maintenance pendente lite, Islamic principles maintenance, matrimonial law South Africa, medical aid obligations divorce, Muslim marriage dissolution, Muslim marriage divorce, Pangarker J judgment, pending divorce proceedings, provident fund settlement, reasonable maintenance needs, religious marriages recognition, Rule 43 Application, section 7(3A) redistribution, section 9 Constitution, Shariah law South Africa, spousal maintenance obligations, Talaq legal effect, Taute v Taute principles, Uniform Rule 43, Western Cape High Court, Women's Legal Centre Trust case When Talaq Meets the Courtroom: Interim Maintenance After Islamic Divorce Under the 2024 Amendments – S.W v A.L (2025/094930) [2025] ZAWCHC 440 (29 September 2025). Factual Matrix: A Rule 43 Application Following Talaq and Divorce Summons The applicant and respondent in S.W v A.L (Case No 2025-094930) ZAWCHC 440 were pensioners who had married each… READ MORE
29/06/2025 Bertus Preller Abuse of Process, Alienation, Best Interests of the Child, Children, Children's Court, Costs, Divorce, Family Advocate, Joint Decision Making, Maintenance, Parental Alienation, Parental Rights, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance, Variation Rule 43(6) B.P.M v J.L.M, best interests of the child, child contact, co-parenting, Colman v Colman, Contact rights, custody variation, divorce litigation, Du Preez v Du Preez, Family Advocate, family advocate report, family law South Africa, forensic psychologist, High Court Limpopo, interim maintenance, Mangena AJ, parental alienation, parenting plans, PAS, Rule 43 Application, Rule 43(6), shared residency, Soller v G, South African divorce law, spousal maintenance, spousal support South Africa, Variation Application, Visser v Visser, ZALMPPHC 96 Parental Alienation, Prolixity and the Best Interests Principle in B.P.M v J.L.M (1909/2024) [2025] ZALMPPHC 96 (13 May 2025). Background and Factual Matrix of the Rule 43(6) Dispute The matter before the court in B.P.M v J.L.M (1909/2024) ZALMPPHC 96 (13 May 2025) concerned a Rule 43(6) application brought… READ MORE
06/05/2025 Bertus Preller Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Procedure, Rule 43, Separation Applications case analysis, convenience requirement, convenience test, court judgment, Divorce Decree, divorce litigation, divorce proceedings, divorce strategy, financial prejudice, irretrievable breakdown, Judicial Discretion, judicial economy, KwaZulu-Natal High Court, Legal Framework, legal implications, marital status, Marriage Dissolution, matrimonial disputes, matrimonial property, matrimonial rights, Mossop J, piecemeal litigation, prejudice assessment, proprietary consequences, Rule 43 Application, separation of issues, South African Family Law, spousal maintenance, Uniform Rule 33(4) “Shackled or Separated? High Court Dismisses Rule 33(4) Application in A.K v R.N (D6036/2023) [2025] ZAKZDHC 15 (30 April 2025)”. Introduction to A.K v R.N: A Case of Separation of Issues in Divorce Proceedings In the recent case of A.K v R.N (D6036/2023) ZAKZDHC 15 (30 April 2025), the KwaZulu-Natal… READ MORE
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
12/09/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Alimony, Best Interests of the Child, Child Maintenance, Children, Costs, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance, Stepparents blended families, child support, children's rights, financial disclosure, forensic investigation, High-net-worth divorce, in loco parentis, interim maintenance, Legal Costs, Rule 43 Application, South African Family Law, standard of living, stepparent maintenance, Western Cape High Court Stepparent Obligations Redefined: N.M v B.M and Others (11384/2024) [2024] ZAWCHC 254 (11 September 2024) – Shakes Up Family Law. The Blended Family Dilemma: Stepparent Maintenance in South African Law The recent judgment in N.M v B.M and Others (11384/2024) ZAWCHC 254 (11 September 2024) has brought the complex issue… 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
07/05/2024 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Child Maintenance, Costs, Financial Disclosure, Maintenance, Procedure, Rule 43 094387/23, 2024, abuse of process, Arrear Maintenance, case law interpretation, contact arrangements, costs order, dismissal, divorce proceedings, expeditious decision, Family Advocate, financial position, Gauteng Division, High Court, inexpensive resolution, interim relief, just decision, lengthy affidavits, M.N v A.L.N, maintenance, Minor Children, Pretoria, Rule 43 Application, rule amendments, Rules Board, South African Law, status quo M.N v A.L.N (094387/23) [2024] ZAGPPHC 402 (22 April 2024): High Court Dismisses Lengthy Rule 43 Application as an Abuse of Process. Background of the Rule 43 Application In the case of M.N v A.L.N (094387/23) ZAGPPHC 402 (22 April 2024), the applicant launched a Rule 43 application on 27 November 2023,… READ MORE
11/04/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Costs, Divorce, Maintenance, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Spousal Maintenance abuse of court process, appetite for litigation, caution, clear cases, community of property, contribution, court order, Divorce, equal footing, expenses, finality, financial positions, inherent power, installments, insufficient means, interim relief, judicial officer, Legal Costs, litigation, loans, maintenance, marital regime, Pendente Lite, prima facie case, pursuit of truth, relocation, Rule 43 Application, Settlement, trust account High Court Rules on Maintenance and Legal Costs Contribution in Acrimonious Divorce Case. – H.K v C.K (15793/2023) [2024] ZAWCHC 99 (10 April 2024). Background of the Parties and Their Marriage The parties in this case, H.K. (the applicant) and C.K. (the respondent), were married on 5 October 1996. At the time of their… 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