domestic violence, abuse, harassment, protection order, Cape Town

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domestic violence, abuse, harassment, protection order, Cape Town

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Frequently Asked Questions on Child Custody – Cape Town

[caption id="attachment_7080" align="alignleft" width="188"]Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf High Court South Africa Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf – Advocate of the High Court South Africa[/caption] We hold a wealth of knowledge on family legal matters, in relation to South African law. This includes issues and questions surrounding child custody, divorce and child maintenance. Feel free to browse through the question and answers below. Should you not find the answer to a child custody question you are looking for, feel free to post your divorce question here. For more questions on child custody, visit this page.

Can you change the baby’s last name without the father’s consent?

No, you require his consent. If he does not want to give consent, then you may approach a court of law. This answer is based on the presumption that the father has parental responsibilities and rights over the child.

Do I have parental rights if I am not on the birth certificate?

Yes, it is possible that you have.

How do you change your last name on your birth certificate?

You need to apply to the Department of Home Affairs.

How do I apply for child maintenance in South Africa?

You should approach the maintenance court.

Can you change your child’s surname?

Yes, you can. Both parents should consent.

How do I change my child’s surname in South Africa?

You need to apply to the Department of Home Affairs.

How much is the basic rate of child maintenance?

There is no basic rate. It depends on the income and expenses of both parents and the needs of the child.

What are your rights as a father?

To form part of the child’s life.

Can you put your baby up for adoption without the father’s consent?

No, you cannot.

Can a mother keep the child away from the father?

She may only with very good reason.

Can a father take a child away from its mother?

He may only do so for a very good reason and in the child’s best interests.

Can a mother give up her parental rights?

Yes, she can.

What age do you stop paying child maintenance?

18. This is when the child is an adult.

What makes a child legitimate?

If both parents were married when the child was born or after. However, the term legitimate and illegitimate is frowned upon.

How do I get sole legal custody of my child?

You need to apply to the court.

Can you get child support if the father’s name is not on the birth certificate?

Yes, you can.

Can a parent take a child away from the other parent?

Only if it is truly in the child’s best interests.

Can you get child support if you have joint custody?

Yes, you can.

Can a parent take a child out of South Africa without permission of the other parent?

No, a parent cannot.

Can a mother take the child from the father?

No, she may not. If she does, she would have to have a valid reason.

What is considered parental kidnapping?

If a parent takes the child from the primary caregiver without his or her permission.

Can a police officer enforce a child custody order?

They may if ordered to.

What are your rights as a father?

To form part of a child’s life.

Who has custody of a child when the parents are not married?

Both parent if they form part of the child’s life. This is on condition that they both hold parental responsibilities and rights. In short, if they meaningfully partook in the child’s life, they hold parental responsibilities and rights.

Can you change the baby’s last name without the father’s consent?

No, you require both parent’s consent. This is especially so if both parents are holders of parental responsibilities and rights over the child.

Do I have parental rights if I am not on the birth certificate?

Yes, you do. If you meaningfully partook in the child’s life you have those rights. Here we refer to paying child support or proving support. We are also referring to you spending time with the child.

How do you change your last name on your birth certificate?

You apply to Home Affairs. Both parents have to give consent if they are co-holders of parental responsibilities and rights. If they do not give consent, then a court application has to be lodged.

How do I apply for child maintenance in South Africa?

You approach the maintenance court. There is a maintenance court in every magisterial jurisdiction in South Africa. You should approach on where you and the child resides, or where you work.

What is visitation rights?

The right to see your child or have contact with him or her. Visitation rights are usually every second weekend and during school holidays.

What rights does a father have to a child born out of wedlock?

To form part of the child’s life. In other words, the same rights as a father of a child born in wedlock. This is of course on condition that he meaningfully formed part of the child’s life since birth.

How can a father get custody of his child?

He should apply to the court. The court would look into what is in the child’s best interests.

What percentage of mothers get custody?

Mother’s are usually the primary caregivers of young children.

How do you get custody of a child without a lawyer?

You can approach the court yourself.

What is an unfit mother?

A mother who does not act in the child’s best interests.

Can a mother keep the child away from the father?

No, she may not. If the mother does that, the father can enforce his rights by approaching a competent court.

How do you apply for full custody of a child?

You approach the court. You may approach the Children’s Court or the High Court.

What percentage of fathers get custody?

A large amount. Each case has its own merits.

What are your rights as a father?

To form part of a child’s life. He also has responsibilities to care and guide the child.

Can you change your child’s surname?

Yes, you can. However, you require the consent of both parent’s holding parental responsibilities and rights.

How does a judge determine custody of a child?

The judge looks at what is in the best interests of the child. There is no pre-determined preference for the father or mother.

How can you get custody of your child?

You should apply to the court. The court would listen to both parents and decide what is best for the child.

What is full custody of a child?

Full custody means that you fully care for the child.

How much is the basic rate of child maintenance?

There is no basic rate. It depends on the specific circumstances of each case. You look at what the parent’s earn and the needs of the children.

Can a mother take her child away from the father?

She may only do that if it is in the child’s best interests. However, she may not go against a court order. If there is a court order in place, she would have to apply to have it varied.

Can a parent take a child away from the other parent?

No, a parent may not do so. If there is a court order in place, such order must first be changed.

How do I change my child’s surname in South Africa?

You need to apply at the Department of Home Affairs. Both parents should give consent. If consent is unreasonably withheld, a court application must be lodged.

How do you file for full custody of your child in Cape Town, South Africa?

You may approach the High Court of the Children’s Court. Each court has a different procedure.

What is joint custody with primary residence?

Joint custody means both parents have equal say in the child’s life and care for the child in that manner. Primary residence is where the child primarily resides. If the child lives with the father during the week, and only sees the mother on weekends, then his home is the primary residence.

What does it mean to have full custody?

The means that the child’ is cared for by only one parent who has full custody.

What is the difference between full and sole custody?

It means the same thing. However, full custody may also mean join custody. It all depends on the context.

Can you get custody of a child that’s not yours?

Yes, you can. You would need to apply to the court for such rights. You may apply to the High Court or the Children’s Court.

Who has custody of a child when the parents are not married?

By default the mother. However, the father acquires such rights if he forms part of the child’s life.

What rights does a mother have to her child?

A mother has full parental responsibilities and rights over her child.

Can you get sole custody and child support?

Yes, you can. They two are separate matters.

What does it mean to be the primary custodial parent?

It means the child is primarily cared for by that parent.

What is partial child custody?

It means that you do not care for the child all the time.

What is the meaning of joint custody?

Joint custody is where both parents care for the child.

What is the difference between legal and physical custody?

Legal would mean based on a court order or the law. Physical would mean what actually takes place.      
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Non Compliance with Court Order Divorce

All parents ought to see to their children’s needs whether married or unmarried. The court however, need not intervene when parents have informally agreed to see to the maintenance of the child. Most times however, divorced parents do not see eye to eye and seek the court’s intervention for child support. [caption id="attachment_4485" align="alignleft" width="300"] Call our law offices on: 0211110090
Email: [email protected][/caption] Our law offices boast a well experienced family legal expert who can offer you quality legal advice in child maintenance, child custody and divorce legal matters. During our years of experience, we’ve found that parties usually resort to a maintenance order when they don’t see eye to eye. A maintenance order is a direct legal instruction for the parent to pay child support – failure in doing so is a serious offense. For free professional, legal expert advice on non-compliance with maintenance orders, click on our child maintenance articles below: [caption id="attachment_4499" align="alignleft" width="300"] Call our law offices on: 0211110090
Email: [email protected][/caption]           Our law offices are situated in the heart of the buzzing CBD at Suit 702, 7th floor, The Pinnacle, corner of Strand and Burg Street, Cape Town. Feel free to call our offices and have our friendly receptionist make an online appointment for you for a professional legal consultation today.

Breach of Court Order

It is not uncommon to find that a parent fails to pay maintenance irrespective of the court order that was granted. When this happens, the following must be done:
  • A formal complaint must be laid at your closest maintenance office
  • The maintenance office will hold a record of a series of payments that’s been made previously and this record will automatically reflect a lapse payment as well.
  • If the parent happens to be employed and still refuse to pay maintenance, the court may enforce an order to get the maintenance from the work directly.
  • When a court order is in place and the other party refuses to pay regardless, the court will call them in. On this day, the court will hear them out as to why they have disobeyed the maintenance order and it will be expected for the other parent to pay all maintenance owed. Failure to comply with the maintenance order means that they will go to jail.
[caption id="attachment_4486" align="alignleft" width="300"] Call our law offices on: 0211110090
Email: [email protected][/caption] For more information on non-compliance with a maintenance order, speak to your family law legal expert today and call our offices for an online appointment today.

Maintenance Arrears Enforcement

Are you in arrears with maintenance and fear the legal consequence of this? [caption id="attachment_4488" align="alignleft" width="300"] Call our law offices on: 0211110090
Email: [email protected][/caption] It is time you speak to your family legal expert and have some direction with the way forward. The court take a lot into consideration before passing judgment as to how much maintenance should be paid. Call our law offices on 021 424 3487 and have an online appointment made for you for a professional legal consultation today. Should you be residing out of Cape Town, then feel free to call our national number on 087 701 1124 today. Connect with us!
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