Best attorney in South Africa – Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

What are twenty (20) common legal questions and answers in South Africa?
While legal questions can vary depending on country and circumstances, here are 20 common legal questions and brief answers. Keep in mind that these responses are general and may not cover all aspects of the law. If you have specific legal concerns, it’s always advisable to consult with a qualified attorney or advocate.
What should I do if I’m involved in a car accident?
Answer: Ensure everyone is safe, call the police, exchange information with the other party, and document the scene.
How do I create a legally binding contract?
Answer: Include offer, acceptance, consideration, legality, capacity, and intention to create legal relations.
What is the process for filing for divorce?
Answer: It generally involves filing a Summons, serving the other party, and going through court proceedings.
How can I protect my intellectual property?
Answer: Register trademarks, patents, or copyrights depending on the type of intellectual property.
What is the difference between a will and a living will?
Answer: A will outlines distribution of assets after death; a living will expresses medical treatment preferences.
How can I start a small business legally?
Answer: Register your business, obtain necessary licenses, and comply with tax regulations.
What are my rights if I’m arrested?
Answer: You have the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the right to a fair trial.
How does insolvency work?
Answer: It generally involves the filing of a Court Application, attending a meeting of creditors, and the discharge of debts.
Can I be fired without cause?
Answer: No
What is the process for adopting a child?
Answer: It involves an application to the Children’s Court, where an adoption social worker gets involved. The process is outlined in the Children’s Act.
What rights do tenants have?
Answer: Rights include the right to a habitable dwelling, privacy, and protection from unlawful eviction.
How do I deal with workplace discrimination?
Answer: Document incidents, report to HR, and consult an employment lawyer if necessary.
What steps should I take after being injured in a slip and fall accident?
Answer: Seek medical attention, document the scene, and consult with an attorney or advocate.
Can I represent myself in court?
Answer: Yes, but it’s often advisable to seek legal representation for complex matters.
What is the process for obtaining a patent?
Answer: File a patent application with the relevant patent office.
What age is a child an adult?
Answer: 18
Where do I get divorced?
Answer: You start the process by issuing a Summons out of the Court.
How can I dispute a traffic ticket?
Answer: Follow the procedures outlined on the ticket, gather evidence, and consider consulting with an attorney or advocate.
What rights do I have when stopped by the police?
Answer: You have the right to remain silent, the right to refuse searches, and the right to an attorney.
How do I start the process of creating a will?
Answer: Consult with an attorney, list your assets, and specify your wishes for distribution. You can also do it on your own if you know what you are doing.

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

Family Law Attorneys Cape Town
Experts: What is a family law Attorney and how can a family Attorney be of help to you? First of all, when dealing with a legal matter such as divorce, child maintenance, child custody etc, it is important to seek the proper legal advice from a professional within the field. A family law Attorney does just that! Our law offices are situated in the heart of the bustling CBD in a central, safe setting for your convenience. Our legal expert has extensive experience in the field of family law which is classified in number of essential aspect:
Ante-nuptial Contracts
Changing your Matrimonial Property Regime
Child Maintenance / Support
Child Custody / Visitation / Access
Divorce
Domestic Violence
Parenting Plans
If you have a question on any of the topics mentioned in the links above, go ahead and click on it, and post your question. As legal consultancy, we get calls on a regular basis in which people ask for an Attorney to assist them in their legal case. We are well affiliated with experienced Attorneys and Advocates that can ensure that you get the best out of your case. Are you interested in any of our legal services? Feel free to call our law offices on 021 424 3487 for an online appointment for a professional legal consultation today.

What family Lawyers do on a daily basis

Family lawyers are experienced experts in dealing with diverse matters that requires their legal expertise. Should you be seeking a divorce, or looking for child maintenance guidance in the law, then a family law Attorney is the right person to speak to. Our common legal matters can range from child maintenance, child custody and divorce, to domestic violence and adoption – it all depends. The way it works is that we enable an online appointment system in which the potential client can make the appointment online themselves, or our friendly receptionist can do it for you. After making an appointment, you will receive an automated email as well as an SMS your side, containing all the information you need to know about the legal consultation ahead. Once payment has been made in advance, your professional consultation is confirmed and you will be consulting with a family legal expert who will be giving you the necessary legal advice you require. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead get dialing to have an online appointment made for you today!

Free legal advice

Our website is easy to navigate and the legal expert had put together well thought out legal articles consisting of free, expert legal advice for your convenience. Below are some of free legal advice article that may be of help to you:

Child Maintenance

Child Custody

Divorce & Property

Domestic Violence

Call our law offices on 021 424 3487 and have your online appointment made for you today!

Have a family Law appointment with us

We have an online appointments system which enables you to save valuable time and cut straight to the chase. There is therefore no need for you to visit our offices (unless it is best for you to do so, or is your most preferred option). You may set up telephonic or video consultations should you wish to do so. You can therefore stay in the office or on the couch in the comfort of your own home when dealing with us. We are therefore physical, online, set-up and ready to meet with you. Make your appointment online for a consultation today. If you find any of our articles, free resources and posts interesting, or possibly useful to others, please like and share it on Social Media by clicking on the icons below. Should you require any other legal services and advice, not related to family law, visit Private Legal.

High Court Advocate Cape Town Western Cape

Or click here for the details of Cape Town Advocate, Muhammad Abduroaf or this advocate link to learn more. Visit our child custody and maintenance site for additional information.

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

My Child was born out of wedlock: Her mother will not consent to her surname change and for me to be registered as her biological father. What can I do?
It often happens that a child is registered at the Department of Home Affairs with the mother’s surname, and later the father wants the child to have his surname. The opposite is also true. This is when the child has the father’s surname, and the mother wants her to have her surname. This often happens in cases of children born out of wedlock, or in cases where the parents are divorced. So, what can a parent do to change the child’s surname? Read on to find out the answers below. Then there is the other scenario where the details of the father are not provided when registering the child with the Department of Home Affairs. One reason for this could be that the mother is not certain who the father is, or just does not want him to be associated with the child. Either way, that section of the child’s birth registration is left blank. Now, what can such a father, or child do under such a situation? We approached Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf, a Family Law Expert for some advice on this issue. Read on if you want to know more. [caption id="attachment_2957" align="alignleft" width="200"] Consult with us, click here.[/caption]

What is a surname?

A surname connects you to your family, ancestors and heritage. On a rare occasion, your last name can be an omen that you carry with you for the rest of your life. Each parent would prefer to have their offspring have their family name to connect their child to them. But sometimes, getting it right can be a challenge, especially if the child’s parents are not married and do not share the same surname. You may find the following articles interesting:

Most people get married, and the wife usually changes her surname to that of her husband, or have what they call a “double-barrel” surname. If that is the case, then their offspring would have their last name. Should the child walk down the street past a neighbour, and a neighbour asks the child her surname, through that they would be able to assume where the child lives, and who her parents are etc. Depending on the neighbourhood, the child’s great-grandparents would also be able to be identified. For some, having the same surname as your parents can be less important, but mostly not.

What does the law say about changing a minor child’s surname?

A child must have the surname of one of his or her parents. If the child was born out of wedlock, the child will have the surname of the mother, unless the father consent to the use of his surname. According to the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 a “child born out of wedlock” “does not include a child whose parents were married to each other at the time of his or her conception or at any time thereafter before the completion of his or her birth”. We are going to look at two issues in this legal article. The first is that of the amendment of the birth registration of children born out of wedlock. In other words, correcting the records to reflect the biological father, as the father. It is possible for the change of a surname of a child born within marriage; however, this article will not be dealing with that. The other issue we shall look at is how can a surname change be done. This would be of use to fathers who never married the mother.

Where are the father’s details found?

It may come to the surprise of the father to find out that he is not registered as the father of his child at the Department of Home Affairs. When he finds this out, the first thing he may do is speak to a lawyer or do some research. Either route will take him to the relevant legislation, in this case, the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992. The Act is a long and crafty piece of legislation. We shall however only deal with the relevant sections for this legal piece.

Section 11 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

Section 11 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 deals with the amendment of birth registration of a child born out of wedlock. An extract of the Act is as follows:

Amendment of birth registration of child born out of wedlock

(1) Any parent of a child born out of wedlock whose parents married each other after the registration of his or her birth, may, if such child is a minor, or such child himself or herself may, if he or she is of age, apply in the prescribed manner to the Director-General to amend the registration of his or her birth as if his or her parents were married to each other at the time of his or her birth, and thereupon the Director-General shall, if satisfied that the applicant is competent to make the application, that the alleged parents of the child are in fact his or her parents and that they legally married each other, amend the registration of birth in the prescribed manner as if such child’s parents were legally married to each other at the time of his or her birth. (2) If the parents of a child born out of wedlock marry each other before notice of his or her birth is given, notice of such birth shall be given and the birth registered as if the parents were married to each other at the time of his or her birth. (3) … (4) A person who wishes to acknowledge himself to be the father of a child born out of wedlock, may, in the prescribed manner, with the consent of the mother of the child, apply to the Director-General, who shall amend the registration of the birth of such child by recording such acknowledgement and by entering the prescribed particulars of such person in the registration of the birth of such child. (4A) An amendment of the particulars of a person who has acknowledged himself as a father of a child as contemplated in subsection (4) and section 10(1)(b) of the Act shall be supported by the prescribed conclusive proof of that person being the father of the child. (5) Where the mother of a child has not given her consent to the amendment of the registration of the birth of her child in terms of subsection (4), the father of such a child shall apply to the High Court of competent jurisdiction for a declaratory order which confirms his or her paternity of the child and dispenses with the requirement of consent of the mother contemplated in subsection (4). (6) When the court considers the application contemplated in subsection (5) the provisions of section 26(b) of the Children’s Act shall apply. In short, the sections say … The above sections are self-explanatory. They deal with the situation where a change is made in relation to the marital status of the parent and for the inclusion of the father in the records. What is important to note is that the records can be changed after the parent married each other, and by the child when he or she turns 18. Furthermore, even if the mother refuses to give consent, the father can apply to the Court to dispense with the mother’s consent. Section 26(b) of the Children’s Act deals with persons who apply to Court to confirm paternity. As can be seen from the above, the law allows for a change in the birth registration regarding the marital status of a child’s parents in relation to the specific child, as well as the identity of the child’s father. According to the regulations of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992, both parents must complete Form BI-1682 and submit it to any domestic Home Affairs office under normal circumstances. Otherwise, a Court order is required.

Alteration or Change to a minor child’s surname

Now we move onto the aspect of the alteration of the surname of the minor child. Unlike the amendment of the records to reflect the marital status of the parents, or identity of the father of the minor child in the record, where we are dealing with factual issues; changing a surname, can have greater issues. In other words, a mother would not have much of a foot to stand on in refusing a father the right to have the records reflect him as a father. However, when it comes to a parent refusing a surname change, things are not that simple. This is where a child’s best interests have to be looked at. At the outset, one can assume that litigation could become inevitable. The relevant section to look at is section 25 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992. An extract of the Act is as follows:

Alteration of surname of minor

(1) When – (a) the birth of any minor born out of wedlock has been registered and the mother of that minor marries any person other than the natural father of the minor; (b) the father of any minor is deceased or his or her parents’ marriage has been dissolved and his or her mother remarries or his or her mother as a widow or divorcee resumes a surname which she bore at any prior time and the father, where the marriage has been dissolved, consents thereto in writing, unless a competent court grants exemption from such consent; (c) the birth of any minor born out of wedlock has been registered under the surname of his or her natural father and the natural father consents thereto in writing, unless a competent court grants exemption from such consent; or (d) a minor is in the care of a guardian, his or her mother or his or her guardian, as the case may be, may apply to the Director-General for the alteration of his or her surname to the surname of his or her mother, or the surname which his or her mother has resumed, or the surname of his or her guardian, as the case may be, and the Director-General may alter the registration of birth of that minor accordingly in the prescribed manner: Provided that the man who married the mother of a minor mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), shall grant written consent for the alteration. (1A) Notwithstanding subsection (1)(b) and (c), the natural father’s written consent is not required where the mother has sole guardianship of the child concerned. (2) Any parent of a minor whose birth has been included under a specific surname in the population register, may on the strength of a reason not mentioned in subsection (1), apply in the prescribed manner to the Director-General for the alteration of the surname of the minor under which his or her birth was registered, and the Director-General may, on submission of a good and sufficient reason given for the contemplated alteration of the surname, alter the said original surname accordingly in the prescribed manner. (3) For the purposes of this section “guardian” includes any person who has in law or in fact the custody or control of a minor. Section 25 is quite self-explanatory. For the purpose of this article, section 25(2) is of relevance. What is important to also note is that if a parent does not consent to the surname change application, the Court can give such consent to such an application or dispense with the refusing parent’s consent. Under all circumstances, the child’s best interests would be looked at when considering such a court application. Below are some examples of good reasons, and not so good reasons for such an Application:

Good reasons for the surname change of a minor child

One good reason would be that the minor child always used the surname of the father, but has not been registered with his surname. There are always problems that occurs due to the parent having a different surname than the child. The father is caring for the child and/or the child primarily lives with him.

Unsound reasons for a surname change of a minor child

On the basis that the child should have the fathers surname in principle. He was never involved in the child’s life but now wants a surname change. The sole reason for the change is that he is paying child support. The child visits him during the holidays.

Final words to parents of children born out of wedlock

If a child was born out of wedlock, it is recommended that the father’s details be included in the registration. If the parties are intending to live together as life partners, and not get married, they need to discuss the aspect of whose surname the child will have. This will have a huge impact on the child’s life in the future. If they cannot come to an agreement on the surname, it would be best to take the issue on mediation. We wish all parents the best in the parenting of their child. Remember, a child cannot choose his or her surname at birth, let alone his or her parents. But you as parents have the choice to make the right decisions for the sake of the future happiness of your child.

Have a family Law appointment with us

We have an online appointments system which enables you to save valuable time and cut straight to the chase. There is, therefore, no need for you to visit our offices (unless it is best for you to do so, or is your most preferred option). You may set up telephonic or video consultations should you wish to do so. You can, therefore, stay in the office or on the couch in the comfort of your own home when dealing with us. We are therefore physical, online, set-up and ready to meet with you. Make your appointment online for a consultation today. If you find any of our articles, free resources and posts interesting, or possibly useful to others, please like and share it on Social Media by clicking on the icons below. Should you require any other legal services and advice, not related to family law, visit Private Legal. Or click here for the details of Cape Town Advocate, Muhammad Abduroaf or this advocate link to learn more. [caption id="attachment_5070" align="alignleft" width="300"] Advocate of the High Court of South Africa

Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf[/caption] Visit our child custody and maintenance site for additional information.

Post a family law question on:

If you have a question on any of the topics mentioned in the links above, go ahead and click on it, and post your question.

Free Family Law Resources

If you require any of the following free resources, feel free to order them.

If you are in search of family law articles, view some of them below.

Child Maintenance

Child Custody

Divorce & Property

Domestic Violence

Frequently asked questions

To find out a little more about our legal expertise, feel free to click on some of legal resources:

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

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