Notice of Intention to Defend High Court South Africa Advocate Abduroaf
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Relocation with my minor child to Czech Republic, Prague (Consent and Refusal) – Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf
The world is becoming a much smaller place, and technology plays a huge role. People are moving across the world for employment, love and happiness, something that was not the norm a few decades ago. There is no reason why you should remain in South Africa if you can find a better life for yourself and your family overseas. Moving overseas may provide you with the quality of life you want or the possibility of experiencing things you always wanted. The same applies to your child or children relocating with you. Relocation of your minor child to Prague, Czech Republic
If you are single and do not have any minor children, then moving around the world would not be too complicated. All you need to do is ensure that you have the necessary travel documentation and travel ticket (and spending money), and off you go. However, if you want to travel with your minor children (for example, ages five or six) or relocate to another country, things may not be that simple. Firstly, if there is another parent, and he or she has parental responsibilities and rights, then his or her consent is required. For example, let us say you live in Randfontein or Musina, South Africa, and you want to relocate to Prague, Czech Republic, you would require the other parent’s consent to leave South Africa with your minor child. This can cause challenges, especially if the staying parent (in South Africa) does not agree to the relocation. What about Passport Consent to travel or relocate to Prague, Czech Republic?
The same applies when it comes to your minor child applying for a South African passport to relocate to Czech Republic, or any country. Both parents who have parental responsibilities and rights of guardianship will have to consent to the minor child’s passport application as well. In this regard, both parents have to be at the Department of Home Affairs (or the relevant bank that also assists with passport application) when making the Application with the minor child. This can be challenging if you have a disinterested parent who does not want to cooperate with the passport application. As you will see later, legal action would need to be taken. What are the steps to follow when I want to relocate to Prague, Czech Republic with my minor child? There is another parent.
To simplify the process for relocation, the first step would be to receive the other parent’s consent in principle for the relocation and that he or she will co-operate in this regard. Once that has been resolved, the parent relocating would need to make the appointment for the minor child’s passport application as well as the application for the relevant VISA. Each country has different requirements; however, seeing that it is a relocation, you need to apply for the correct VISA. For that, you need the Passport.
Once the visa and travel arrangements have been finalised, the parent remaining behind will sign a parental consent letter for the international travel. That letter can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. Basically, the parent remaining behind would state that he or she gives consent for the minor child to leave the Republic of South Africa and travel and/or relocate to Prague, Czech Republic. What can I do if the other parent does not want to consent to the minor child’s relocation to Prague, Czech Republic?
If the parent remaining in South Africa does not want to consent to the minor child’s passport application and/or his or her relocation to Prague, Czech Republic, then you would need to approach the Court. The Court, as upper guardian of the minor child, may order that the parent’s consent for the passport application and relocation be dispensed with. What this entails is submitting Court documents explaining why you want to relocate to Prague, Czech Republic. The other parent would also have an opportunity to give reasons why he or she objects.
At the end of the process, the Court would determine what is in the minor child’s best interests. If it is in the minor child’s best interests to relocate to Prague, Czech Republic, the Court would make it possible despite the issue of consent or refusal. What is the first step I should take if the other parent does not want to consent to the minor child’s passport application and/or relocation to Prague, Czech Republic?
If the other parent does not want to consent to the passport application and/or the relocation of the minor child to Prague, Czech Republic – in that case, we suggest you approach an attorney or advocate (trust account) to assist you with the legal process. He or she would then contact the other parent explaining the reasons for the relocation and request the necessary consent. If the parent remaining in South Africa does still not agree to the passport application and/or to the relocation to Prague, Czech Republic, then the attorney or advocate will proceed to take the matter to court. The legal route can be expensive. However, it is necessary to make the relocation of the minor child possible. You may also attend to the legal process yourself. Getting legal assistance or help with your relocation application to Prague, Czech Republic
If you require legal assistance or representation with relocating to Prague, Czech Republic due to the other parent not cooperating or providing consent, then feel free to contact us for assistance. The Firm Advocate, Muhammad Abduroaf, deals with these types of matters.
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ABC guide on how to obtain a Protection Order
The Steps to follow
The steps to follow to obtain a Protection Order in domestic violence situations are regulated by the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998 (hereafter referred to as the act). I strongly suggest that you consult an attorney, advocate or family lawyer should your matter be complicated. Below is a simple A B C guide outlining a few simple steps that a complainant (the person affected by domestic violence) has to follow in order to obtain an interdict (Protection Order) against another person? However, before these steps may be laid down important to know whether you should approach the Domestic Violence Court or the South African Police Services for a Peace Order: Speak to them about it.Q: What is a Protection Order?
A: In simple terms, a protection order is an order granted by the Domestic Violence Court which prohibits the person whom the order was made against to commit any acts of domestic violence against you. Furthermore, a Court might grant you an interim Protection Order with basically the same effect as a Protection Order which will be finalised later.Q: Who may approach the Domestic Violence Court?
A: In order to approach the Domestic Violence Court, you have to be a complainant as described by the Act. According to the Act, such a person is someone who is or has been in a domestic relationship with a respondent (the person committing the domestic violence) and who is or has been subjected or allegedly subjected to an act of domestic violence, including any child in the care of the complainant. So, therefore, the next question is what is a domestic relationship?Q: What is a Domestic Relationship?
A: According to the Act, a “domestic relationship” means a relationship between a complainant and a respondent in any of the following ways: (a) They are or were married to each other, including marriage according to any law, custom or religion; (b) They live or lived together in a relationship in the nature of marriage, although they are not, or were not, married to each other, or are not able to be married to each other; (c) They are the parents of a child or are persons who have or had parental responsibility for that child (whether or not at the same time); (d) They are family members related by consanguinity, affinity or adoption; (e) They are or were in an engagement, dating or customary relationship, including an actual or perceived romantic, intimate or sexual relationship of any duration; or (f) They share or recently shared the same residence. Now the last question is, what is domestic violence? Q: What is domestic violence? A: According to the Act, domestic violence” means- (a) Physical abuse; (b) Sexual abuse; (c) Emotional, verbal and psychological abuse; (d) Economic abuse; (e) Intimidation; (f) Harassment; (g) Stalking; (h) Damage to property; (I) entry into the complainant’s residence without consent, where the parties do not share the same residence; or (j) Any other controlling or abusive behavior towards a Complainant. Therefore, if you are experiencing domestic violence, the following simple steps have to be followed in order to get you started:Step 1
Write on a page all the incidents of domestic violence done to you or to your children on paper. Be very clear with the names of people, dates and times. Take your time as this information you will have to fill onto a form at Court, which is dealt with in step 2 below. Tip: If you fill in the form at Court without first making a draft to work from at your convenience, you might be so nervous at Court and leave out valuable information. Find out all the details of the person whom you want to be protected against domestic violence, e.g. his/her home and work address and identity number, etc.Step 2
Go to the Domestic Violence Court closest to your area and the Clerk of the Court will give you a form to fill in. The form is referred to as an Application for Protection Order form. Use the information you have gathered in Step 1 and fill in the form. The form is in the form of an affidavit and you therefore have to swear to the correctness of the information under oath and sign. Therefore, do not hide any information from the Court or unduly exaggerate. Caution: If your information is not 100 % correct, you may be cross-examined on such correctness in Court and if it is found that you were not totally honest, this would not be in your favour.- If you require any assistance in filling in the form, the Clerks of the Court would be happy to assist you.
- Once you have filled in the Application for Protection Order form, return it to the Clerk who will have it commissioned.
- The Clerk of the Court would then take the completed documents to a Magistrate who would read through it and might want to speak to you as well. The Court will then do one of 3 things:
(a) Dismiss your application if there is no evidence that domestic violence is taking place. (b) Grant you an Interim Protection Order which will be finalized on a date provided by the Court where the Respondent will have a chance to give his / her side of the story; or (c) Postpone the matter without granting an Interim Protection Order and provide a date where the Respondent will get a chance to give his / her side of the story. PLEASE NOTE: An Interim Protection Order has no force and effect until it has been served on the Respondent as in step 3 below. Therefore, do not waste time in getting it served.Step 3
Now the Respondent has to be informed about the application to Court and the date which both of you have to be back at Court. Depending on the Court, the Clerk of the Court might give you the necessary documents to drop at the Police Station or Sheriff’s Office operating where the Respondent lives or works in order to have it served on the Respondent. Make sure that you receive proof from the officer serving the documents on the Respondent that he has done so.Hint: The South African Police Services does not charge to serve these documents but the Sheriff does.
If the Respondent commits any acts of domestic violence towards you, report the matter immediately to the Police and if there is no Interim Protection Order in place, go immediately back to the Domestic Violence Court and state your case in order to get one. Go back to Court on the date provided and state your case. If there are grounds, the Court will grant you a Protection Order. If you have a Protection Order against you, it is possible to have it varied or set aside. Consult the Court, your Attorney, Advocate or Family Lawyer in this regard. 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.
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