Child Custody / Visitation / Access Questions and Answers

We introduced this Child Custody / Visitation / Access Questions and Answers page for you to post questions you may have on the topic. For example, if you want to know if you are entitled to custody, pose a question with some background facts. At the same time, should you be able to assist others who posted questions below, requiring some advice on Child Custody / Visitation / Access, please proceed and reply to their comments. In that manner, we would all be able to assist each other and increase our online knowledge base. Therefore, although we a are legal consultancy, specialising in family law, you may have problems or experiences that we have not encountered. Let us share in our knowledge of Child Custody / Visitation / Access.
We are conveniently located in the Pinnacle Building, in the Cape Town CBD. Click here to call us on (021) 4243487 or send us an email.

Other family law resources on this website

There are various other family law resources on this website that you may find useful. For example, there is a downloadable child maintenance calculator. The resources may assist you with whatever questions you have, or information you require on Child Custody / Visitation / Access. Therefore, after posting your question, or any time after, have a look at the useful resources and information on our website. Some of these resources are listed hereafter.

Articles and Q&A

There are a range of legal articles on this website dealing with various family law issues. Some of these articles are straight forward, outlining the legal position on a family law related topic. For example, how to apply for child maintenance, or how to get divorced. Other articles are written in the form of answering a specific legal question. For example, do I pay maintenance if I am unemployed, or what do I do if I want to leave the country with my child, and the other parent does not want to provide consent? Those articles are in blog format. This means that you are welcome to comment or pose questions to increase our knowledge base. The clear idea behind our website is that we want to make family law legal information more accessible and available to the public.

Downloadable resources

We created some downloadable resources for free on this website. They are: 1 Free Basic Will Tool Kit 2. Free Shariah Will Template 3. Free Divorce Starter Tool Kit 4. Free Child Maintenance Calculator 5. Free DIY Urgent Child Contact Toolkit Feel free to download these useful resources. Click on the links above, and complete the online purchase process. The purchase price is R 0. Thereafter, a downloadable link would be emailed to you. Once you received the email, download it as soon as possible as the link would expire after two months. We hope that we assisted you with any queries you had on Child Custody / Visitation / Access. If not, feel free to arrange a consultation with us.

Sharing is Caring

This and other articles and posts found on this website are written by Adv. Muhammad Abduroaf to assist people with various family law related issues they may have. 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. For more interesting articles and information on Family Law, view our articles and Q&A page. If you have a family law related legal issue and you want someone to answer or reply to it, feel free to post it on our Family Law Blog. Therefore, kindly like and share. Should you require any other legal services and advice, not related to family law, visit Private Legal.        

Child Custody / Visitation / Access Questions and Answers

We introduced this Child Custody / Visitation / Access Questions and Answers page for you to post questions you may have on the topic. For example, if you want to know if you are entitled to custody, pose a question with some background facts. At the same time, should you be able to assist others who posted questions below, requiring some advice on Child Custody / Visitation / Access, please proceed and reply to their comments. In that manner, we would all be able to assist each other and increase our online knowledge base. Therefore, although we a are legal consultancy, specialising in family law, you may have problems or experiences that we have not encountered. Let us share in our knowledge of Child Custody / Visitation / Access.

We are conveniently located in the Pinnacle Building, in the Cape Town CBD. Click here to call us on (021) 4243487 or send us an email.

Other family law resources on this website

There are various other family law resources on this website that you may find useful. For example, there is a downloadable child maintenance calculator. The resources may assist you with whatever questions you have, or information you require on Child Custody / Visitation / Access. Therefore, after posting your question, or any time after, have a look at the useful resources and information on our website. Some of these resources are listed hereafter.

Articles and Q&A

There are a range of legal articles on this website dealing with various family law issues. Some of these articles are straight forward, outlining the legal position on a family law related topic. For example, how to apply for child maintenance, or how to get divorced. Other articles are written in the form of answering a specific legal question. For example, do I pay maintenance if I am unemployed, or what do I do if I want to leave the country with my child, and the other parent does not want to provide consent? Those articles are in blog format. This means that you are welcome to comment or pose questions to increase our knowledge base. The clear idea behind our website is that we want to make family law legal information more accessible and available to the public.

Downloadable resources

We created some downloadable resources for free on this website. They are:

1 Free Basic Will Tool Kit

2. Free Shariah Will Template

3. Free Divorce Starter Tool Kit

4. Free Child Maintenance Calculator

5. Free DIY Urgent Child Contact Toolkit

Feel free to download these useful resources. Click on the links above, and complete the online purchase process. The purchase price is R 0. Thereafter, a downloadable link would be emailed to you. Once you received the email, download it as soon as possible as the link would expire after two months. We hope that we assisted you with any queries you had on Child Custody / Visitation / Access. If not, feel free to arrange a consultation with us.

Sharing is Caring

This and other articles and posts found on this website are written by Adv. Muhammad Abduroaf to assist people with various family law related issues they may have. 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. For more interesting articles and information on Family Law, view our articles and Q&A page. If you have a family law related legal issue and you want someone to answer or reply to it, feel free to post it on our Family Law Blog. Therefore, kindly like and share.

Should you require any other legal services and advice, not related to family law, visit Private Legal.

 

 

 

 

Related Post

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

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 Grahamstown

Whether you claim child maintenance in Grahamstown, 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 Grahamstown.

The maintenance scenario – Grahamstown 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 Grahamstown
  2. The child is cared for by the mother who works in Grahamstown
  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 Grahamstown
  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 Grahamstown, it would be the maintenance court in Grahamstown. 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 Grahamstown, 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 Grahamstown Maintenance Court?

Once you have been notified of the maintenance court date by the Grahamstown 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 Grahamstown?

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

 

 

 

Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf: The Unwavering Ally in the Appeals Process

The legal landscape can be a challenging terrain, especially for those who have faced unfair treatment in court and suffered the disappointment of a lost case. However, when it comes to appealing this outcome, the path to justice can be navigated with certainty and strength, especially with the expert guidance of Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf. A fighter for rights he is unwavering in his commitment to securing justice for his clients.

Demystifying the Appeals Process

Understanding the appeals process is crucial for anyone considering an appeal. It is important to note that an appeal is not a mere reiteration of the original trial; it is a powerful challenge to the decision rendered by a lower court. The appellate court meticulously reviews the trial proceedings to identify significant legal errors that influenced the outcome. With Advocate Abduroaf by your side, you can approach this process with confidence, knowing you have an expert who understands the intricacies of appellate law.

Rigorous Case Review

When you enlist Advocate Abduroaf’s services, the first step is a comprehensive review of your original case. This isn’t just a cursory glance—it’s an in-depth examination of court transcripts, evidence, and legal arguments. Advocate Abduroaf identifies precise grounds for appeal, whether they involve misapplication of the law, procedural irregularities, or issues with the sufficiency of evidence. His sharp analytical skills will illuminate critical points that could turn the tide in your favor.

Crafting a Compelling Appeal

With the foundation laid, Advocate Abduroaf expertly handles the creation of the appeal itself. The notice of appeal is not just a formality; it must be meticulously crafted to include specific decisions, grounds for appeal, and desired outcomes. Advocate Abduroaf specializes in drafting documents that seize attention and assert a compelling case for reconsideration. His ability to distill complex legal arguments into clear, impactful writing serves as a powerful tool in persuading the appellate court.

Leveraging Legal Research and Precedents

Success in appeals often hinges on establishing a robust legal framework. Advocate Abduroaf employs a comprehensive approach to research that digs deep into relevant case law and annotations. By integrating precedents that echo your situation, he builds a formidable foundation for your appeal. This level of preparation not only strengthens your case but also reflects Advocate Abduroaf’s authoritative grasp of the law—something that resonates with appellate judges.

Expert Representation in Court

The culmination of the appeals process often leads to a critical hearing, and this is where Advocate Abduroaf shines as an exceptional oral advocate. With unparalleled confidence and poise, he presents your case before the appellate judges. His sharp intellect allows him to navigate complex questions, effectively counter opposing arguments, and communicate your position with clarity and conviction. Having Advocate Abduroaf in your corner means fighting with a seasoned warrior prepared to defend your rights at every turn.

Providing Constant Support

Appealing a case is not only a legal challenge; it is also an emotional journey. Advocate Abduroaf understands the pressures involved and offers steadfast support and guidance throughout the entire process. He fosters open communication and ensures you remain informed and engaged, cultivating an empowering partnership that allows you to face the legal battle head-on.

Navigating Legal Complexities with Precision

The appellate process is inherently complex, filled with stringent deadlines and procedural requirements that must be meticulously followed. Advocate Abduroaf’s breadth of experience means he knows these intricacies inside and out. He ensures that every filing is executed accurately and on time, thereby eliminating potential traps that could jeopardize your appeal. Anticipating obstacles and devising strategies to mitigate them is an integral part of his approach, keeping your case on the path to success.

Final Thoughts

In summary, Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf stands as an unwavering ally in the pursuit of justice through the appeals process. His relentless dedication, tactical acumen, and expert representation ensure a formidable challenge against any unjust court ruling. Choosing the right advocate is critical for the success of your appeal, and Advocate Abduroaf’s track record speaks volumes about his ability to achieve favorable outcomes. If you’ve faced injustice, aligning yourself with Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf could very well be your strongest move in reclaiming your rights and obtaining the justice you deserve. The path may be challenging, but with him by your side, you can pursue it with confidence and determination.