25/07/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contracts, Appeal, Divorce, Pacta sunt servanda, Procedural Law, Procedure, Settlement agreements accrual system, appealable order, civil procedure, client advice, client communication, common mistake, contract law, divorce settlement, Family Law, judicial interpretation, justus error, legal certainty, Legal Practitioners, professional liability, settlement agreement, South African Law, Supreme Court of Appeal, thorough preparation, variation Legal Pitfalls in Divorce Settlements: B v B [2024] ZASCA 116 (24 July 2024). Warns Practitioners. The Dispute: A Settlement Agreement Under Scrutiny The case of B v B (259/2023) ZASCA 116 originated from a divorce settlement that quickly became contentious after its conclusion. The parties,… READ MORE
23/07/2024 Bertus Preller Contempt of Court, Financial Disclosure, Maintenance, Rule 43 contempt of court, Court Order Compliance, divorce proceedings, Family Law, financial transparency, Gauteng High Court, interim order, judicial authority, maintenance payments, mala fides, Rule 43, South African Law, Suspended Sentence, wilful disobedience Contempt of Court in Divorce Proceedings: Lessons from L.M.G V J.M.G (124145/2023) [2024] ZAGPPHC 672 (9 July 2024). The Importance of Obeying Court Orders in South Africa In the recent High Court judgment of L.M.G v J.M.G (124145/2023) ZAGPPHC 672 (9 July 2024), Judge Swanepoel emphasised the critical… READ MORE
20/07/2024 Bertus Preller Child Maintenance, Divorce, Marital Regimes, Pension Funds accrual system, Arrear Maintenance, Asset Division, Case Law, community of property, Court Rulings, Divorce Act 70 of 1979, divorce settlements, Family Law, financial landscape, fund depletion, future maintenance, housing loans, legal complexities, Legal precedents, maintenance obligations, maintenance orders, marital dissolution, marital property law, Matrimonial Property Act 88 of 1984, Pension Funds, Pension Funds Amendment Bill 2024, pension interests, retirement benefits, retirement savings, South Africa, South African Law, Two-Pot retirement system The Two-Pot Retirement System and Maintenance: Revolutionising Divorce Settlements in South Africa under the Pension Funds Amendment Bill 2024. Introduction South Africa's financial landscape is on the brink of a significant transformation with the imminent implementation of the Two-Pot retirement system on 1 September 2024. This innovative approach to… READ MORE
18/07/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Children, Costs, Parental Rights, Procedure, Rule 43 abuse of process, best interests of the child, Child Custody, child welfare, Constitutional Rights, divorce proceedings, Family Law, forum shopping, High Court, interim orders, Judicial Discretion, Legal Procedure, Legal Strategy, matrimonial matters, regional court, Rule 43, Rule 58, South African Law, urgency Navigating the Maze: Forum Shopping and Urgency in Family Law – Insights from D.G.S.F v M.F and Another (347/2024) [2024] ZAFSHC 207. Background: A High-Stakes Rule 43 Application The case of D.G.S.F v M.F and Another (347/2024) ZAFSHC 207 (2 July 2024) centres on a contentious Rule 43 application in the Free… READ MORE
13/07/2024 Bertus Preller Artificial fertilisation, Best Interests of the Child, Child Maintenance, Children, Guardianship, Life Partnerships, Parental Rights, Same Sex Couples 2024 ZAGPJHC 626, A.V and Another v D.C, artificial fertilisation, AV and NZ, best interests of the child principle, Child's Best Interests, children's act, co-parenting, Constitutional Court, Contact rights, custody disputes, DC, family advocate report, Family Law, family law practitioners, guardianship, identity and birth certificate, international travel consent, judicial decision, Legal Framework, legal precedent, maintenance payments, medical aid dispute, Parental Rights, permanent life partner, Section 21, Section 23, Section 40, South African Law, VJV case Case on Same-Sex Couples and Artificial Fertilisation: A.V and Another v D.C and Others (40522/19) [2024] ZAGPJHC 626 (26 June 2024) – Balancing Parental Rights and Child’s Best Interests Introduction In A.V and Another v D.C and Others (40522/19) ZAGPJHC 626 (26 June 2024), the applicants, AV and NZ, and the first respondent, DC, initially believed that certain sections… 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
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
13/06/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Anti-Dissipation Interdicts, anti-dissipatory relief, Appeal, Divorce, Procedural Law accrual system, anti-dissipation interdict, appealability, asset dissipation, constitutional values, constitutionalization, Divorce, evidentiary threshold, exceptional circumstances, fair outcomes, Family Law, intentions, interests of justice, interim orders, judicial accountability, KSL v AL, legal developments, legal principles, marital property, matrimonial disputes, precedents, rule 34 offers, settlement negotiations, South African Law, strategic litigation, Supreme Court of Appeal The SCA Unraveling the Intricacies of Anti-Dissipation Interdicts in Matrimonial Disputes: Lessons from KSL v AL (356/2023) [2024] ZASCA 96 (13 June 2024). The Lowdown: Facts and Background of KSL v AL (356/2023) ZASCA 96 (13 June 2024) The saga of KSL v AL began when KSL (the husband) tied the knot with… 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
23/03/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Appeal, Divorce, Marital Regimes, Trusts, Trusts accrual system, alter ego trust, Antenuptial Contracts, Asset Concealment, asset protection, Divorce, equitable division, estate calculation, financial manipulation, financial strategy, judicial interpretation, Legal precedents, legal remedies, marital rights, marital wealth, matrimonial disputes, matrimonial property, Paf v Scf, Property Division, South African Law, spouse entitlements, Trust assets, Trust Property Control Act, trust veil Unraveling Trust Assets in Divorce: Navigating South African Matrimonial Law. Trust Assets in Matrimonial Disputes: Navigating South African Legal Waters In South African family law, the treatment of trust assets in matrimonial disputes, particularly during divorce proceedings, presents a complex… READ MORE