How do I find the best advocate in South Africa for my case?

1. Define Your Needs: Identify the specific legal services you require (e.g., family law, criminal defence, corporate law).
2. Research Online: Use legal directories;
3. Check Reviews and Ratings: Look for client reviews and ratings to gauge the firm’s reputation and client satisfaction.
4. Ask for Recommendations: Reach out to friends, family, or colleagues who may have had similar legal needs for personal recommendations.
5. Evaluate Experience: Consider the firm’s experience in your specific legal issue, including years in practice and case outcomes.
6. Schedule Consultations: Many firms offer free or less expensive consultations. Use this opportunity to meet attorneys, discuss your case, and assess their communication style.
7. Assess Costs: Inquire about fees and billing practices. Understand whether they charge hourly rates, flat fees, or contingency fees.
8. Trust Your Instincts: Choose a firm that you feel comfortable with and confident in their ability to handle your case.
9. Verify Credentials: Check the attorneys’ qualifications and any disciplinary history.
10. Consider Location: Proximity can be important for ease of communication and meetings.

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Questions and Answers on Wills – Last Wills and Testaments

How do I write a will for free? Is a handwritten will legal? Are handwritten wills legal in Cape Town? Do you have to go to a lawyer to make a will? Can you just write a will and get it notarized? How do I go about making a will for free? What are the requirements to make a will? What is in a simple will? Is a will valid if it is not notarized? What is a holographic will? What is the average cost of making a will? What are the requirements for a valid will? Do wills have to be dated? Is a handwritten will valid in the South Africa? Can family witness a will? Who can be a witness to a will? What is a will when someone dies? What is a legal will? What is the average cost of a simple will? What is the purpose of having a will? How do you sign a will? Is a notarized document a legal document? How much does it cost to do a will? How much does it cost to have a living will? What can I do as a paralegal? How much does it cost to get a power of attorney? Can you be an executor and a witness to a will? Can a notary be a witness to a will? Can I make changes to my will? Is a will signed by a notary legal? Is a handwritten will valid? Do notaries have to witness signatures? Can a family member be a witness on a legal document? Do you have to change your will when you move house? Can you just write a will and get it notarized? Is a document legal if it is not notarized? Do both parties have to be present to have a document notarized? How do you notarize a document? Can I notarize a document already signed? Can you get something notarized online? Do you have to sign divorce papers in front of a notary? What type of notarization is a power of attorney? What is a proof of execution? What is a subscribing witness to a will? What does it mean to be a credible witness? Can a credible witness be named in a signed document? What is an unreliable witness? What is the problem with eyewitness testimony? Why eyewitness testimony is unreliable? What is eyewitness testimony in psychology? What is eyewitness memory in psychology? Why is an eyewitness account valuable? What is a reconstructed memory? What are the effects of misinformation? Why does the misinformation effect occur? What is a repressed memory? Is a handwritten will valid? Is a notarized document a legal document? Is a handwritten contract legally binding? What do you call a person who can notarize? Can you just write a will and get it notarized? What does a contract need to be valid? Can I change my will at any time? Do you need a lawyer to change your will? How do you write a codicil to a will? Can you change a will if you have power of attorney? Can a family member be a witness to a will? Who can be a witness to a will? How do I write a will for free? Do you need a lawyer to write a will? How do I make a will online for free? What is in a simple will? Do wills have to be dated? What is a will that is oral? What does testimonies? What percent of wrongful convictions based on mistaken eyewitness testimony are common? What is motivated forgetting? Do you have to have a will notarized? What are the requirements to make a will? Why do you forget things? How do you forget something? What are the effects of misinformation? Why does the misinformation effect occur? What is a repressed memory? What is a will when someone dies? What is a legal will? What is the average cost of a simple will? What is the purpose of having a will? Why is it important to have a will? What is a joint will? What is a holographic will? What is a will and a trust? Is a handwritten will legal? What is the average cost of making a will? Are online wills valid? How much does it cost to do a will? How much does it cost to have a living will? Do my wife and I need separate wills? Is a document legal if it is not notarized? Is a notarized document a legal document? Where can I get a document notarized for free? Can you get something notarized online? Do wills have to be dated? What is a will that is oral? Can a notary be a witness to a will? Do you need a lawyer to write a will?

Child Maintenance Saga: How a mother forced the father of her child to pay child maintenance after battling for 5 years

Is it possible for an unmarried father to obtain full custody of a 10-year-old child and not the mother? – A simplified family lawyer’s perspective.

Top tips and tricks from a Senior Family Law Advocate on claiming maintenance for a five-year-old child in Graaff-Reinet.

Child Maintenance is the right of the child, and not that of the parent. It is also not a privilege granted to parents who must pay it. It is their duty to pay child maintenance and support their children. Once the child is self-supporting (being able to care for him or herself), the obligation falls away. This can happen when the child is 18, 20, or even 30. It all depends on the circumstances of the case.

Claiming child maintenance for your child in Graaff-Reinet

Whether you claim child maintenance in Graaff-Reinet, or any other city in South Africa, the procedures would be the same. There are however two (2) courts that can deal with child maintenance matters. That is a divorce court, in a divorce matter, and a Child Maintenance Court. For this article, we will focus on claiming maintenance in a Maintenance Court matter in Graaff-Reinet.

The maintenance scenario – Graaff-Reinet South Africa

In this article, we will deal with the following fictitious scenario, in a child maintenance matter:

1. The Child is seven years old and attends school in Graaff-Reinet
2. The child is cared for by the mother who works in Graaff-Reinet
3. The mother works and earns a Salary of R 10 000
4. The father sees the child every second weekend. He also lives and works in Graaff-Reinet
5. The child’s monthly expenses are R 6000 – 00 which includes food, clothing, accommodation, education, travel etc.
6. The father earns a reasonable salary and can afford the R 20 000 – 00 per month
7. The mother claims R 4 000 – 00 maintenance as the father earns double her salary

What is the first step the mother must take in claiming child maintenance?

The first thing the mother must do is work out exactly what the child costs by item. She breaks down the minor child’s living expenses, starting from rent or accommodation to groceries to school fees etc. Once she has done that, she would need to determine what exactly does the minor child cost per month, seeing that she will be asking the father to contribute towards that. As best as possible, she needs to collect proof of expenses. This can be in the form of receipts.

How does she start the legal process?

The mother now needs to approach the maintenance court in the area where she lives or works to lodge a complaint for child maintenance. If she lives or works in Graaff-Reinet, it would be the maintenance court in Graaff-Reinet. She will complete a Form A wherein she will provide all the expenses for her and the minor child. She would also have to stipulate her income. Once she completed the form and submitted it to the maintenance court, she must then follow the next step.

What do you do while waiting for the maintenance court date?

While you wait to be informed of the court date by the Maintenance Court of Graaff-Reinet, and up until the actual first court date, you need to ensure that you keep a record of all income and expenses for you and the child. This is very important as the court allocates maintenance based on recent income and expenses.

What happens at the first court appearance at the Graaff-Reinet Maintenance Court?

Once you have been notified of the maintenance court date by the Graaff-Reinet Maintenance Court, you need to ensure that you attend it. On that day, both you and the father of the child would appear before a maintenance officer. The maintenance officer would go through both your income and expenses as well as that of the father. If all the relevant information is not before the maintenance court, then the matter may be postponed in order for the parties to submit it.

The maintenance officer will try to settle the matter and have the parents come to an agreement regarding the amount of child maintenance to be paid. If they cannot come to an agreement regarding the child maintenance to be paid, the matter would have to proceed to a formal hearing or trial before a Magistrate.

How does the Maintenance Court hearing or trial work in Graaff-Reinet?

Essentially, the maintenance court is called upon to make a fair ruling regarding what is a fair amount of child support that needs to be paid. For that to happen, the parents would have to give evidence in that regard. The mother would present to the court what the child costs, what she contributes and what she requires the other parent to pay. The Father would have a right to question the mother and to present evidence as to why he cannot afford the amount requested or why he feels it is an unfair amount. The mother can they also question him.

At the end of the day, the Graaff-Reinet Maintenance Court would be able to properly determine what is a fair and adequate amount of child maintenance to pay after being presented will all relevant information. The Graaff-Reinet Maintenance Court should play an active role in determining what is a fair amount of child maintenance the father should pay.

The above child maintenance application principles should apply to the following provinces and cities:

Eastern Cape:

Alice, Butterworth, East London, Graaff-Reinet, Grahamstown, King William’s Town, Mthatha

Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Uitenhage, Zwelitsha

Free State:

Bethlehem. Bloemfontein, Jagersfontein, Kroonstad, Odendaalsrus, Parys, Phuthaditjhaba, Sasolburg, Virginia, Welkom

Gauteng:

Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Carletonville, Germiston, Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Pretoria, Randburg, Randfontein, Roodepoort, Soweto, Springs, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging

KwaZulu-Natal:

Durban, Empangeni, Ladysmith, Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown, Ulundi, Umlazi

Limpopo:

Giyani, Lebowakgomo, Musina, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Seshego, Sibasa, Thabazimbi

Mpumalanga:

Emalahleni, Nelspruit, Secunda, North West, Klerksdorp, Mahikeng, Mmabatho, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Northern Cape, Kimberley, Kuruman, Port Nolloth

Western Cape:

Bellville, Graaff-Reinet, Constantia, George, Hopefield, Oudtshoorn, Paarl, Simon’s Town, Stellenbosch, Swellendam, Worcester

Top tips from a Senior Family Law Advocate on how to deal with your Child Custody matter in the Sibasa Children’s Court

Family law legal matters can be very stressful. This is so whether you live in Sibasa or any other city in South Africa. Especially so if you have no idea how the legal processes work. It is one thing to know that you are entitled to child support, but it is a totally different matter to know the law and procedure on how to claim child support. Luckily in child maintenance matters, the maintenance court is there to assist you in completing the application form. However, many times that is not enough. Especially so if the other parent has a lawyer and knows how to present the case for his or her client.

This article, however, deals with some top tips in care and contact or custody matters in the Children’s Court in Sibasa. It would explain the processes involved and advise on how to be best prepared for your matter. This advice is applicable whether you live in Sibasa or any other city in South Africa.

What to do before visiting the Sibasa Children’s Court

Before you approach the Children’s Court in Sibasa, first try to resolve the issues with the other parent. Therefore, if you want more contact with your child and the other parent is refusing, try to resolve the matter first with that parent. If that does not work, try mediation. The mediator can be anyone, from a trusted mutual friend, priest, or other religious leaders, or a professional like an attorney, psychologist, or the office of the Family Advocate. Sibasa has many professionals that can assist you in this regard. If resolving the matter by yourselves is not possible, or mediation fails, then we suggest you approach the Sibasa Children’s Court for assistance.

TIP: Focus on getting someone neutral to assist in mediating your matter. Organisations like FAMSA and FAMAC can be of assistance. Google them.

Approaching the Sibasa Children’s Court

The Sibasa Children’s Court should be approached if it is the closest Children’s Court to you. You need to verify with the Sibasa Children’s Court that you fall under their area of jurisdiction. If not, they would direct you to which Children’s Court is applicable to you.

Once you arrive at the Sibasa Children’s Court, they will provide you with a form headed “Bringing Matter to Court in Terms of Section 53 Children’s Act, 2005 (Act no. 38 of 2005) Regulation Relating to Children’s Court and International Child Abduction, 2008 [Regulation 6]. This form is also called Form 2.

In this form, you will provide all your particulars and that of the child or children and the other parent. The sections in the form are as follows:

• PART A: PARTICULARS OF CHILD(REN)
• PART B: PARTICULARS OF *CHILD WHO IS AFFECTED BY OR INVOLVED IN THE MATTER/PERSON *ACTING IN THE INTEREST OF THE CHILD/*ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD WHO CANNOT ACT IN HIS/HER OWN NAME/ *MEMBER OF A GROUP OF CLASS OF CHILDREN/*IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (SECTION 53(2)
• PART C: PARTICULARS OF PERSONS HAVING AN INTEREST IN THE MATTER
• PART D: PARTICULARS OF MATTER

In part D, the following is stated which you need to provide in the form:

• Nature of matter brought to Court: (Please give full details of the matter e.g., registration/amendment of parenting plans, removal of child to safe care, children in need of care and protection, placement in youth care centers, adoption etc.
• Documents: Are there any documents relating to the matter? (If so please attach)

Once you have completed the form and attached the relevant documents to it, you must take it to a commissioner of Oaths to have it commissioned. It does not have to be in Sibasa.

TIP: Draft a separate affidavit explaining your case. Outline some background information and reasons why the Court should give you what you request. Attach it to Form 2.

Processing your Application at the Sibasa Children’s Court

Once you complete the Form A and submit it to the Clerk of the Sibasa Children’s Court, they will process it and allocate it a case number or reference number. The Clerk of the Court would then allocate a date to the matter and advise the parties accordingly when the court date is. Please note that some courts follow a different process for processing the application and informing the parties of the court date. Please enquire from the Court when making the application what process they follow.

TIP: Obtain the contact details of the Court for you to contact them to obtain the Court date or other information. Ask for their contact number and email address.

Appearing in the Sibasa Children’s Court

When notified of the Court date, both you and the other parent should attend. If you are making use of a lawyer (Advocate or Attorney), inform them timeously of the date. Depending on the Court, you may first see the Clerk or go directly to the Magistrate. The Children’s Court would do its best to try to resolve the matter. If the parents cannot come to an agreement, the Children’s Court may postpone the matter for either of the following:

• Get a social worker involved in the matter;
• Appoint a legal representative for the minor child;
• Implement interim care and contact arrangements;
• Having the parties attempt to agree on a parenting plan;
•  

In serious matters, the Court may remove the minor child from both parents and place the child in foster care. The powers of the Children’s Court are extensive. It will, however, focus on what is in the child’s best interests.

TIP: Be as vocal as possible. Do not expect the Court to be understanding of your case or be on your side. It is your duty to explain your case and provide the Court with all the relevant information they require for them to make a fair decision.

Finalising the matter in the Sibasa Children’s Court

Once the Sibasa Children’s Court has enough information to make a final decision, it will do so. Depending on the facts of the matter, that could either be making a Parenting Plan, an Order of the Court or a final care and contact Order. The Court may even make further interim orders, where the parties are to return to Court after a few months, or a year later.

TIP: Do not agree to something just because the social worker, a lawyer, or the Court suggest it. You need to be happy with what is decided.

The above Sibasa Children’s Court Application tips should apply to the following provinces and cities:

Eastern Cape:

Alice, Butterworth, East London, Graaff-Reinet, Grahamstown, King William’s Town, Mthatha

Port Elizabeth, Queenstown, Uitenhage, Zwelitsha

Free State:

Bethlehem. Bloemfontein, Jagersfontein, Kroonstad, Odendaalsrus, Parys, Phuthaditjhaba, Sasolburg, Virginia, Welkom

Gauteng:

Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Carletonville, Germiston, Johannesburg, Krugersdorp, Pretoria, Randburg, Randfontein, Roodepoort, Soweto, Springs, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging

KwaZulu-Natal:

Durban, Empangeni, Ladysmith, Newcastle, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown, Ulundi, Umlazi

Limpopo:

Giyani, Lebowakgomo, Musina, Phalaborwa, Polokwane, Seshego, Sibasa, Thabazimbi

Mpumalanga:

Emalahleni, Nelspruit, Secunda, North West, Klerksdorp, Mahikeng, Mmabatho, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Northern Cape, Kimberley, Kuruman, Port Nolloth

Western Cape:

Bellville, Sibasa, Constantia, George, Hopefield, Oudtshoorn, Paarl, Simon’s Town, Stellenbosch, Swellendam, Worcester