Execute and Register your Ante-nuptial or Prenuptial Contract

Marriage is a big step for any two people to take. It is the start of a life together. Getting married is further a legal act where the law affords a married couple with certain rights and responsibilities. For example, the couple has a legal obligation to maintain each other. They may further not marry anyone else whilst so married. And of course, where this article comes into play, married spouses, unless they entered into an ante-nuptial, or prenuptial contract, have a joint estate. In short, there is no longer two separate estates, but one estate, belonging to both of them, in undivided shares.

Antenuptial or Prenuptial Contract

An Antenuptial or Prenuptial Contract is a legal contract, entered into between you and your intended spouse, outlining the matrimonial property regime, and any property or assets to be included or excluded therein. It is drafted and then executed before a Notary Public. The contract would then be registered at the Deeds Office. Remember, it must be executed before you get married either by you and your spouse or a person having a special power of attorney. If it is not done before you get married, you would be married in community of property. The only way to change that would be to approach the High Court for consent to change it. That can be very expensive.

Out of Community of Property

Now let’s say, you and your intended spouse do not want to have one estate, but continue having your own estates while you are so married. This would be useful if you are a business person. Should things go bad for one spouse, then only that estate would be affected. For example, in the case of insolvency, the creditor would only be able to sequestrate your personal estate and not that of the other. And if things go well, and you get hold of some wealth, the wealth would only belong to you and not your spouse. Should you divorce your spouse, then you walk away with only that what you own. For the latter scenario to apply, you should get married Out of Community of Property with the exclusion of the accrual regime. And for that, you need to enter into an antenuptial, or prenuptial contract with your spouse before you get married. Marriage Contract - Antenuptial - Prenuptial Agreement

Accrual Regime

Now let’s say you want to have two separate estates during your marriage. Should your spouse die, or you get divorced, you want to benefit from your spouse’s estate. In other words, you want to get half the difference between the two estates. If you want this to apply at divorce or death, then you need to enter into an antenuptial contract before you get married.

Antenuptial or Prenuptial Contract Registration

Experience taught us the many people leave this important aspect of their marriage until the very last. This is not a good idea as you do not want to rush into this. We offer professional and confidential advice to clients on the legal aspects in relation to ante-nuptial contracts. We would further draft your prenuptial contract and arrange with a Notary Public to execute and register it. You and your intended spouse any either meet with the Notary Public yourselves or provide a special power of attorney.

What does our prenuptial service include?

Our antenuptial contract service may include the following, depending on your requirements:
  • Basic and simplified advice on the three matrimonial property regimes;
  • The basic law on antenuptial contracts;
  • Drafting your antenuptial contract which you and your spouse are happy with;
  • Execution of your prenuptial contract with a Notary Public; and
  • The Registration of your ante-nuptial contract.
We want to make sure that you know what you are getting yourself in, as the agreement would regulate the proprietary aspect, for the entire duration of your marriage. This is the most important and referred to the document, during your marriage. Knowing the law always brings peace of mind. And with us, family matters. Kindly proceed with making payment to start the process. Once you have made the payment, sit back and wait for us to contact you once we received notification of payment. You may also proceed with completing the Online Antenuptial Contract Registration Form. Please note that our operating hours are from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00, excluding public holidays. You are also welcome to contact us during our operating hours on 0211110090. Marriage Contract - Antenuptial - Prenuptial Agreement    
Posted on by Telelaw

Execute and Register your Ante-nuptial or Prenuptial Contract

Marriage is a big step for any two people to take. It is the start of a life together. Getting married is further a legal act where the law affords a married couple with certain rights and responsibilities. For example, the couple has a legal obligation to maintain each other. They may further not marry anyone else whilst so married. And of course, where this article comes into play, married spouses, unless they entered into an ante-nuptial, or prenuptial contract, have a joint estate. In short, there is no longer two separate estates, but one estate, belonging to both of them, in undivided shares.

Antenuptial or Prenuptial Contract

An Antenuptial or Prenuptial Contract is a legal contract, entered into between you and your intended spouse, outlining the matrimonial property regime, and any property or assets to be included or excluded therein. It is drafted and then executed before a Notary Public. The contract would then be registered at the Deeds Office. Remember, it must be executed before you get married either by you and your spouse or a person having a special power of attorney. If it is not done before you get married, you would be married in community of property. The only way to change that would be to approach the High Court for consent to change it. That can be very expensive.

Out of Community of Property

Now let’s say, you and your intended spouse do not want to have one estate, but continue having your own estates while you are so married. This would be useful if you are a business person. Should things go bad for one spouse, then only that estate would be affected. For example, in the case of insolvency, the creditor would only be able to sequestrate your personal estate and not that of the other.

And if things go well, and you get hold of some wealth, the wealth would only belong to you and not your spouse. Should you divorce your spouse, then you walk away with only that what you own. For the latter scenario to apply, you should get married Out of Community of Property with the exclusion of the accrual regime. And for that, you need to enter into an antenuptial, or prenuptial contract with your spouse before you get married.

Marriage Contract - Antenuptial - Prenuptial Agreement

Accrual Regime

Now let’s say you want to have two separate estates during your marriage. Should your spouse die, or you get divorced, you want to benefit from your spouse’s estate. In other words, you want to get half the difference between the two estates. If you want this to apply at divorce or death, then you need to enter into an antenuptial contract before you get married.

Antenuptial or Prenuptial Contract Registration

Experience taught us the many people leave this important aspect of their marriage until the very last. This is not a good idea as you do not want to rush into this. We offer professional and confidential advice to clients on the legal aspects in relation to ante-nuptial contracts. We would further draft your prenuptial contract and arrange with a Notary Public to execute and register it. You and your intended spouse any either meet with the Notary Public yourselves or provide a special power of attorney.

What does our prenuptial service include?

Our antenuptial contract service may include the following, depending on your requirements:

  • Basic and simplified advice on the three matrimonial property regimes;
  • The basic law on antenuptial contracts;
  • Drafting your antenuptial contract which you and your spouse are happy with;
  • Execution of your prenuptial contract with a Notary Public; and
  • The Registration of your ante-nuptial contract.

We want to make sure that you know what you are getting yourself in, as the agreement would regulate the proprietary aspect, for the entire duration of your marriage. This is the most important and referred to the document, during your marriage. Knowing the law always brings peace of mind. And with us, family matters.

Kindly proceed with making payment to start the process. Once you have made the payment, sit back and wait for us to contact you once we received notification of payment. You may also proceed with completing the Online Antenuptial Contract Registration Form.

Please note that our operating hours are from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00, excluding public holidays. You are also welcome to contact us during our operating hours on 0211110090.

Marriage Contract - Antenuptial - Prenuptial Agreement

 

 

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

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 Swellendam

Whether you claim child maintenance in Swellendam, 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 Swellendam.

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

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

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

 

 

 

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

  Family law legal matters can be very stressful. This is so whether you live in Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg. 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 Rustenburg or any other city in South Africa.

What to do before visiting the Rustenburg Children’s Court

Before you approach the Children’s Court in Rustenburg, 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. Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg Children’s Court

The Rustenburg Children’s Court should be approached if it is the closest Children’s Court to you. You need to verify with the Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg. 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 Rustenburg Children’s Court

Once you complete the Form A and submit it to the Clerk of the Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg Children’s Court

Once the Rustenburg 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 Rustenburg 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, Rustenburg, Constantia, George, Hopefield, Oudtshoorn, Paarl, Simon’s Town, Stellenbosch, Swellendam, Worcester

Posted on by Telelaw

Daniella Mair – Psychological Counsellor Professional Summary                                           I am a passionate, positive and driven person. I strive for excellence in everything I do while keeping my own limitations in mind. I am dedicated to being an being an honest, ethical and valuable member of society. I conduct myself from an empathetic internal point of reference and enjoy helping people learn and grow in their own lives. I am a psychological Counsellor who deals with many cases of family trauma and family disjointment and am passionate about helping with the process of repair. I have always been a very maternal person who connects well with children, I am dedicated to being part of decision making that will allow children to have the best possible opportunities, love and care and feel grateful to be able to do so as a divorce mediator. Employment history                                                     Psychological Counsellor & Divorce Mediator, Self. Cape Town                         Mar. 2010 – Present I run a private practice dealing with all areas of psychological well being focusing on child and adolescent development, psychopathology, family therapy and divorce mediation with specific focus on creating parenting plans. My main area of interest is to Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.  Facilitator, Various. Cape Town Jan. 2004 – Dec. 2012 Facilitator at Herzlia school for various learners with learning difficulties. Provide ongoing support and advance them in their studies, offer motivational and mental health support.  HR, Ashdan Electronics. Cape Town Jan. 2005 – Jan. 2008 Implement staffing guidelines, Project managed various products. Research and development. Education FAMAC, Cape Town Course, Divorce Mediation, Oct. 2012 UNISA, Cape Town HONORS, Psychology, Nov. 2010 UNISA, Cape Town Bachelor of Arts, Communications, Nov. 2008

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