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
20/01/2025 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Anti-Dissipation Interdicts, anti-dissipatory relief, Asset Disclosure, Division of Estate, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Hiding Assets, Maintenance, Procedural Law, Punitive Cost Orders, Rule 43, Rule 43 Cost Contributions, Rule 58 Alternative Dispute Resolution, asset dissipation, court enforcement, divorce proceedings, early disclosure, equitable outcomes, Family Law, financial asymmetry, financial disclosure, financial disclosure forms, financial fraud, financial information gap, financial transparency, Gauteng Practice Directive, Gender Equality, Maintenance Act, maintenance disputes, Marital Assets, marital estate, matrimonial property, Mediation, POPI compliance, privacy concerns, procedural reform, South Africa, South African Law Reform Commission, spousal maintenance, Trust assets, uberrimae fidei The Financial Information Gap in Family Law: Addressing Inequities and Reforming Disclosure Practices. The Financial Information Gap: Understanding the Core Problem in Family Law Matters The landscape of family law in South Africa faces a critical challenge rooted in the asymmetrical access to… READ MORE
07/12/2024 Bertus Preller Accomodation, Alimony, Arrear Maintenance Variation, Arrears, Children, Divorce, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43, Spousal Maintenance, Variation Rule 43(6) children's rights, constitutional protection, court order variation, custody rights, divorce proceedings, family accommodation, Family Law, financial protection, High Court Judgment, interim relief, judicial precedent, legal precedent, Lekhuleni J, maintenance arrears, maintenance default, matrimonial home, matrimonial property, Minor Children, parental obligations, property rights, Property Transfer, rental accommodation, Rule 43 variation, shelter protection, shelter rights, South African courts, spousal maintenance, unilateral property sale, upper guardian, Western Cape High Court Selling the Family Home? Court Protects Children’s Rights to Shelter in Ruling: MSH v JSH (Reasons) (618/2019) [2024] ZAWCHC 406 (29 November 2024). Background: The Sale of the Matrimonial Home and Rule 43 Variation In a recent Western Cape High Court decision, M.S.H v J.S.H (Reasons) (618/2019) ZAWCHC 406 (29 November 2024), the… READ MORE
17/09/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Actio communi dividundo, Divorce, Marital Regimes accrual system, actio communi dividundo, Antenuptial Contract, bound co-ownership, divorce proceedings, equitable distribution, Judicial Discretion, marital home, Marriage Dissolution, matrimonial property, Property Division, property rights, South African Law, spousal maintenance Bound by Marriage: The Complex Co-ownership Conundrum in P.N v A.E (20081/2023) [2024] ZAWCHC 266 – (16 September 2024). Background: Marriage, Property Acquisition, and Divorce Proceedings In the case of P.N v A.E (20081/2023) ZAWCHC 266 (16 September 2024), we encounter a dispute between married partners over the termination… READ MORE
24/08/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contracts, Antenuptial Contracts, Commencement Values, Division of Estate, Divorce, Pacta sunt servanda, Prenuptial Afreement accrual claims, accrual system, antenuptial agreements, Antenuptial Contracts, asset valuation, commencement values, conclusive proof, court judgments, divorce litigation, divorce proceedings, Family Law, financial disclosure, financial transparency, forensic accountants, Legal Framework, legal interpretation, Manelis case, matrimonial assets, Matrimonial Property Act, matrimonial property law, Maxted v Maxted, Olivier v Olivier, prima facie proof, property settlements, Section 6, South African Law, spousal maintenance, Thomas v Thomas, TN v NN Accurate Commencement Values in Antenuptial Contracts: Legal Interpretations and Implications Explored in TN v NN and Others 2018 (4) SA 316 (WCC). The Purpose and Role of Commencement Values in Antenuptial Contracts Commencement values play a crucial role in the implementation of the accrual system in South African matrimonial property law. As… READ MORE
20/08/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Adversarial Legal System, Costs, Divorce, Hostile Family Lawyers, Maintenance, Procedure, Rule 43, Separation Applications, Subpoenas, Trusts accrual calculations, asset valuation, complex divorces, Divorce Decree, Family Law, Financial Disputes, High-net-worth divorce, interim relief, Judicial Discretion, legal precedent, matrimonial property, protracted proceedings, Rule 43 rights, separation order, South Africa, spousal maintenance, strike date, Trust assets, trust law, vexatious litigation Unshackling Dead Marriages: TD v LD and Others (32195/2017) [2024] ZAGPJHC 751 (12 August 2024) – Reshapes High-Net-Worth Divorces in South Africa. Background: A Protracted Divorce Battle The case of TD v LD and Others (32195/2017) ZAGPJHC 751 (12 August 2024) highlights the complexities and challenges of high-net-worth divorces in South Africa.… READ MORE
19/06/2024 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, Adversarial Legal System, Alimony, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Division of Estate, Divorce, Grey Divorce, In Community of Property, Maintenance, Pension Funds, Reasons for Dicorce, Spousal Maintenance Alternative Dispute Resolution, Antenuptial Contracts, arbitration, Asset Division, Collaborative Divorce, Divorce Act 70 of 1979, Divorce Attorney, divorce settlements, Emotional Challenges, emotional well-being, estate planning, Family Law, Financial Advisors, financial considerations, Grey Divorce, legal guidance, Marital Property Regimes, Mediation, Pension Funds, Retirement Planning, Self-care, South Africa, spousal maintenance, Tax Professionals Navigating the Complexities of Grey Divorce in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide. Introduction Navigating the complexities of divorce is never an easy task, but for those over the age of 50, the challenges can be particularly daunting. In South Africa, the phenomenon… READ MORE
23/05/2024 Bertus Preller Divorce, Maintenance, Marriage, Pacta sunt servanda, Prenuptial Afreement Antenuptial Contract, certainty, circumvention, Constitutional Court, D H B v C S B, dissenting opinion, Divorce, Divorce Act, donation, enforceability, fairness, freedom of contract, Judicial Discretion, jurisdiction, legal status, maintenance contract, majority judgment, matrimonial regime, Pacta Sunt Servanda, pleadings, prenuptial agreements, procedural fairness, Public Policy, Section 7, spousal maintenance, statutory right, unintended consequences Prenuptial Agreements and Public Policy: The Constitutional Court’s Ruling in D H B v C S B (CCT 293/22) [2024] ZACC 9 (22 May 2024). Background of the Case D H B and C S B concluded an antenuptial contract before their marriage in 2015, declaring their marriage to be out of community of property… 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
19/01/2024 Bertus Preller Alimony, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Maintenance, Rule 43, Spousal Maintenance adventure hobbies, biokineticist mother, Child Custody, Constitutional Rights, divorce financial equity new case, Divorce Law, engineer father, equitable support, fair legal costs, Family court rulings, family law insights, family law precedent, financial disclosures, financial disparity, gender-neutral support, interim maintenance, K.A.E v W.N.E, legal advocacy, Legal Costs, legal expense allocation, Legal Representation, MAHOMED AJ ruling, matrimonial home, mother living with parents, new case analysis, new Rule 43 judgement, parenting plan, Rule 43, South African Family Law, spousal maintenance, spousal support Redefining Fairness: New Case Analysis on Spousal Support Where Mother Lived with Parents, Rule 43. – K.A.E v W.N.E (58415/2021) [2023] ZAGPJHC 1488 (18 December 2023). Facts of the Case Background and Parties Marriage and Separation: The parties, K.A.E (applicant) and W.N.E (respondent), were married in 2010 and separated in 2017, a year after the birth… READ MORE