Child custody for fathers

During our years of experience in dealing with child custody battles, we have found it common for fathers fighting for child custody and wanting to know more about their legal rights. Unfortunately, a father paying child maintenance will not be guaranteed full child custody of a child. [caption id="attachment_4238" align="alignleft" width="300"] Call us on: 0211110090
Email: [email protected][/caption] For more on father’s rights in child custody, click on the links below and read our free, expert legal advice article on how to go about your legal rights as a father.  

• Child custody visitation access- questions and answers
• Child custody frequently asked questions
• Father refused contact to his child. What are his rights?
• Father’s parental responsibilities and rights to his child.
• How do I get full custody over my child?
• Parental child abuse in custody cases- Cape Town
• What does it mean when you have primary residential custody?
• What happens in a case custody dispute when one parent is mentally ill?

Feel free to call our law offices on 021 424 3487, or our national number on 087 701 1124 if you’re residing out of Cape Town. We are conveniently situated in the heart of the buzzing CBD at The Pinnacle, Suit 702, 7^th floor, corner of Strand and Burg Street, Cape Town. Make your online appointment with us today.

Child maintenance procedure in South Africa

• Birth certificate of your child/children.
• Your identity document.
• Proof of residence.
• A divorce settlement.
• Proof of your monthly income and expenses.
• The personal details of the parent required to pay maintenance such as their name, surname physical and work address.
• Copy of your bank statement.

Grounds for custody

Trust Account Advocate – South Africa – Adv Muhammad  Abduroaf Cape Town Best

Best advice on finding a top divorce lawyer for your divorce case  in Wynberg, Cape Town

Do you live in Wynberg, and are you considering divorcing your spouse? Or have you been threatened with divorce? Either way, a divorce is a legal matter, and it is best to find sound legal advice or assistance. Furthermore, divorcing someone has potential severe legal consequences you may not know of. The first consequence, of course, is that you are no longer married to your former spouse, and there is no legal obligation to maintain each other (unless you qualify for alimony). You may also not inherit from your former spouse’s intestate. Lastly, and obviously, you are free to marry someone else. However, do you know of the proprietary (property) consequences of getting a divorce? What about the assets and debt you and your spouse incurred in Wynberg or elsewhere during your marriage? Do you know what should happen to it? If not, it is best you find out about these critical aspects and others before getting divorced. Then there is the issue of parental responsibilities and rights after the divorce should there be minor children involved. This article aims to provide guidance on finding the best attorney or advocate for your divorce matter that can adequately and properly advise you or handle your divorce. The advice would apply whether you live in Wynberg or anywhere else in South Africa. The issues we shall deal with are the following.

• Gender of the Advocate or attorney;
• Location of the Advocate or attorney;
• Experience of the Advocate or attorney;
• Costs of the Advocate or Attorney; and
• The personality of the Advocate or Attorney.

What is the best gender of the Advocate or Attorney I need to use for my divorce? Is a male or female better?

Generally, the gender of your Advocate or Attorney should not play a role at all in a legal matter. However, depending on your background and the issues involved in your divorce, you may prefer a specific gender where you may feel more comfortable. A female who has been emotionally, physically and psychologically abused may be more comfortable with a female Attorney or Advocate. However, the same female client may prefer a male Advocate or Attorney. No more will be said on this issue.

What is the ideal office location of the Advocate or attorney? Does it have to be in Wynberg?

The location or office of your attorney or Advocate is essential if you wish to consult with them in person. It is also ideal, but not necessary, for their offices to be close to the Court where the divorce would be handled. However, many lawyers make use of correspondent lawyers for this purpose. Furthermore, location should not be an issue if you want a specific lawyer to handle your case. This is so especially seeing that people are making use of virtual meetings.

What level of experience should the Advocate or attorney have?

It is important to remember that not all legal matters require the best lawyer. If your divorce is straightforward, finding the best lawyer in the field is unnecessary. The best may be very busy and lack the time to give your case the attention it deserves. However, if your matter is complicated, then in that case, the most experienced and best lawyer out there is not warranted.

What about the Costs of an Attorney or Advocate?

For many, the costs of the Attorney or Advocate are the most crucial consideration when it comes to enlisting their services. Usually, the more experienced the Attorney or Advocate, the more they would charge. Another aspect that affects costs is the nature of the expertise of the Advocate or Attorney. If the issues in your matter are highly technical and complicated, an Advocate or Attorney with expertise and experience may charge more.

What about the personality of the Advocate or Attorney?

Many may discard the Advocate or Attorney’s personality as not important. However, it is essential to note that it may be time to change lawyers if you do not get along well with the Advocate or Attorney because of their personality. A lawyer and their client would develop a professional relationship in family law matters. This is especially so when the lawyer must discuss many personal issues regarding you, your marriage, children, finance, spouse etc. If you cannot get along well with your Attorney or Advocate, you may not divulge important information relevant to your case.

What is our best advice to a client looking for an Advocate or Attorney in a divorce matter?

Considering all the factors mentioned above, before enlisting the services of an Advocate or Attorney, ensure you enlist the right one. Do not look for the most experience or best, or the top one in family law. You may have to change lawyers if you do so and cannot afford legal bills. Therefore consider the above and any other factors that you may consider necessary when deciding on enlisting the services of an Advocate or an Attorney. Best of luck.