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Finding the best lawyer (attorney or advocate) for your legal matter – Top advice for anyone with a legal problem in South Africa

It is best to stay out of trouble. However, sometimes trouble finds you. And if that happens, you must obtain the best lawyer suited for you (attorney or advocate) to assist you with your legal problems. If you do not need an attorney or advocate to assist you with your matter, it may be best to first schedule a consultation with one, at least for peace of mind. Read on further to ensure you obtain the best legal practitioner (advocate or attorney) that suits your budget and case.

Is the top or best attorney or advocate necessary in every legal matter?

The legal problems people have varied from case to case. Some are simple. For example, a traffic fine which you wish to dispute. Others can have severe consequences on your life. For example, going through a divorce or being arrested and charged for a crime you did not (or did) commit. Whatever the legal issues, obtaining the best advice is always the best. It does not mean you need to source the top lawyers in South Africa for every legal problem. That would not make sense if the issues involved were relatively minor and the consequences were not dire. For example, if you are disputing a traffic fine of R 500 – 00, it does not make sense to consult with the top criminal lawyer in Cape Town, who may charge you R 5000 – 00 for the consultation. However, if you are facing jail time, consult with an experienced attorney or advocate who charges more than others based on their experience and is worth their fee.

What is the first step to take when faced with a legal problem?

When faced with a minor legal problem, it may be a good idea to research the topic first. For example, someone owes you money and does not want to pay you. Doing some basic research will tell you that you can send that person a letter of demand, and if that does not work, approach the small claims court. If you do not want to go through all that effort, approaching an attorney or advocate may be less stressful. However, there would be legal fees involved. And in some cases, the legal costs involved would be more than the amount claimed. If, on the other hand, there are serious legal consequences, for example, losing your home, jail time, custody of minor children and so on, we advise you best to obtain legal advice and assistance from the start. Usually, serious legal matters are time sensitive, and a delay can cause more significant issues. For example, if someone is suing you for money through the court, and you receive the summons, you have two weeks to file a notice informing the court you are defending the matter. If you do not do so within two weeks, the other party, the plaintiff, may obtain a default judgment against you.

Do senior advocates and attorneys charge more than junior lawyers?

The more experience an attorney or advocate has, the better they are for your case. That experience earns the advocate or attorney the right to charge more than his competitor with less experience and who may have to learn how to handle your matter. An experienced lawyer may charge more per hour but spend less time dealing with your matter. A less experienced lawyer may charge less per hour but spend many more hours dealing with your matter with less experience and skill than the senior lawyer would have. At the same time, it would be overkill to use a senior attorney or advocate if your case does not require their skills and expertise. In many cases, a junior lawyer would have the necessary skills and expertise to assist you as a senior advocate would. It would all depend on the nature and complexity of your case and whether your budget allows it.

Posted on by Telelaw

Draft you own Divorce Summons and Particulars of Claim, Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

In South Africa, a court of law would be approached to divorce a couple if the marriage broke down irretrievably. In other words, the marriage cannot be saved. Once a decree of divorce is granted, then spouses are immediately allowed to remarry and move on with their lives.  This is what is hoped and expected. There are however factors that may keep spouses connected post-divorce. This could vary from couple to couple.

Connecting former spouses post-divorce

If there are minor children born from the marriage, then the parties may have to deal with each other in relation to child maintenance, and visitation after the divorce. If it is ordered or agreed upon prior to the divorce, that one spouse should pay personal maintenance to the other spouse, or alimony, then on that basis the parties may have to continue dealing with each other after the divorce.

The divorce process in South Africa

Many spouses contemplate getting divorced. However, do not know what procedures need to be followed. Only courts of law in South Africa can divorced couples. And not every court is authorised to do so. For examples, the criminal courts or tax courts will not be able to divorce a couple. The High Courts and the family courts would be able to divorce a couple. The entire legal process starts with the issuing of a summons out of the relevant court.

Issuing of a Summons from the divorce court

A summons is a legal document that needs to be drafted. The summons will be issued out of the court that has jurisdiction to attend to the divorce. Usually, it would be the court that deals with divorces where one of the parties resides in.   The registrar of the court would sign and stamp the summons and provide a case number. Basically, a court file is opened.

Particulars of claim

Attached to the summons would be a Particulates of Claim. This document basically outlines certain relevant information to the divorce court. For example, when the parties were married and details of minor children if any and the reasons for the breakdown of the marriage. The other party and the court would, therefore, know what issues they are going to deal with. Below you will find an example of a Particulars of Claim. You will also find an online form which you can complete to assist you in starting that divorce process.

Example of information in a Particulars of Claim

1. The Plaintiff and the Defendant are as described on the face on the summons. 2. The Defendant and/or Plaintiff are domiciled within the area of jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. 3. On 01 January 2000, at Cape Town, Western Cape, the parties were married In Community of Property, and the marriage still so subsists. Kindly find attached a copy of the marriage certificate marked “A”. 4. Plaintiff avers that by virtue of the following facts and circumstances the marriage relationship between the parties has broken down irretrievably and that there is no reasonable prospect for the restoration thereof in that: 4.1 There is no love and affection and meaningful communication between the parties; and 4.2 The Parties do not wish to live as husband and wife.

WHEREFORE PLAINTIFF PRAYS FOR:

A. A Decree of Divorce; B. Equal division of the Joint Estate; C. Costs, only in the event this action is defended; and D. Further and / or alternative relief. DATED AT SIGNED AT CAPE TOWN THIS___DAY OF __________________2020.   ______________________ Per: JOHN WILLIAMS (Plaintiff in Person) 4 Green Street, Greenland, WESTERN CAPE TO: THE REGISTRAR HIGH COURT CAPE TOWN AND TO: JANE WILLIAMS 1 Apple Street, Apple Town, WESTERN CAPE

Complete the free online divorce form below to assist you with your unopposed divorce.

If you want to attend to your own uncontested divorce, we can to help you at no charge. Fill in the form below, and then our system will send you an email with the details you provided, which you should include in the divorce documents. [ninja_form id=35]    

Posted on by Telelaw

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