Parenting plans, divorce, child custody, visitation rights, family law, Children’s Act, Cape Town, South Africa

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

Children born out of wedlock – The issue of whose surname the minor child should have
Children born out of wedlock – let us have a look at the law when it comes to their surname, and changes to it. In the ideal world, a couple falls in love, gets married, and then bring a child into this world. However, since the beginning of time, this was not always the case. History has many stories of children who were born out of wedlock. This is more prevalent this modern day as many couples decide to start a family, without nuptials. Then there is the other extreme where a child is conceived through a brief encounter and then the parties continue with their own paths in life. The law and society also treat children born out of wedlock differently. This has changed to an extent where neutral terms are being used. Words like “illegitimate” and so on are used to refer to such innocent children whose fate was laid down by their parents. The law and society were so extreme, that even children born from religious marriages, which were not recognised as valid civil marriages were also referred to as “illegitimate”. It is however still shocking that the South African law we refer to later, still uses the term “illegitimate child”. Nonetheless, a beautiful innocent child is born, and then the issue of whose surname he or she should have has arisen. This is what this article addresses. Whose surname should a child born out of wedlock have, according to the law? And further, can such a surname be legally changed later?

Issues in relation to a surname of minor children born out of wedlock

This article deals with two issues in relation to a surname of a child born out of wedlock. The first is whose surname a child born out of wedlock should have according to the law? This is an important issue. There are a few scenarios that come to play. One where the parties lived together and planned on having the child and intend to marry or live together indefinitely. In such a case, maybe the child should have the father’s surname. Then there is the other situation, where the mother and the father of the child had a short intimate relationship, and he wants the child to have his surname. This could be complicated as he may never form part of the child’s life but wants the child to have his surname. This we refer to as an ego or vanity reason. And the second issue this article deals with is what the law says regarding a change to the surname of a child born out of wedlock. This is also an important issue as, sometimes, the father of a child born out of wedlock is the one who cares for the child and invests most of his life in the child. Situations can arise where it would be expedient for him to have primary care over the child and for the child to have his surname. We will look at this issue in more detail below. Now let us look at the law.

Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

When it comes to issues of name, surname, details of the father on the birth certificate and so on, we refer to the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992. What this Act says, is that within 7 (seven) days of the birth of the child born out of wedlock, or any child for that matter, notice of his or her birth must be given to the Department of Home Affairs in the prescribed manner. It further says that if the parents are married, then the child would have the father’s surname. However, that is not the case for children born out of wedlock as you will see later. The Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 unfortunately still uses the term “illegitimate child”. But let’s have a look at it anyway.

Section 10 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

Section 10 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 is entitled “Notice of birth of illegitimate child”. It states the following: “10. (1) Notice of birth of an illegitimate child shall be given – (a) under the surname of the mother; or (b) at the joint request of the mother and of the person who in the presence of the person to whom the notice of birth was given acknowledges himself in writing to be the father of the child and enters the prescribed particulars regarding himself upon the notice of birth, under the surname of the person who has so acknowledged. (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the notice of birth may be given under the surname of the mother if the person mentioned in subsection 5 (1 )(b), with the consent of the mother, acknowledges himself in writing to be the father of the child and enters particulars regarding himself upon the notice of birth.”

Explanation of section 10 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

Section 10 says that if the child was born out of wedlock, he or she should have the surname of the mother. However, if both the mother and father agree, then the child can have the surname of the father. Now, this is what the law says, and what would probably happen in life should the mother and father be on good terms when the child’s name is registered. However, what can the father do if later he wants the child to have his surname? In that case, we have to look at a different section of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992. And that is section 25 of the Act.

Section 25 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

Section 25 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992 deals with the alteration of the surname of a minor. Unfortunately, in that section, the word “illegitimate minor” is still used. The sections state the following: “25. (1) When- (a) the birth of any illegitimate minor has been registered and the mother of that minor marries any person other than the natural father of the minor; (b) the father of any minor is deceased or his parents’ marriage has been dissolved and his mother remarries or his mother as a widow or divorcee resumes a surname which she bore at any prior time; (c) the birth of any illegitimate minor has been registered under the surname of his natural father; or (d) a minor is in the care of a guardian, his mother or his guardian, as the case may be, may apply to the Director-General for the alteration of his surname to the surname of his mother, or the surname which his mother has resumed, or the surname of his guardian, as the case may be, and the Director-General may alter the registration of birth of that minor accordingly in the prescribed manner: Provided that the man who married the mother of a minor mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b), shall grant written consent for the alteration. (2) Any parent or any guardian of a minor whose birth has been included under a specific surname in the population register, may on the strength of a reason not mentioned in subsection (1), apply to the Director-General for the alteration of the surname of the minor under which his birth was registered, and the Director-General may, on submission of a good and sufficient reason given for the contemplated alteration of the surname, alter the said original surname accordingly in the prescribed manner. (3) For the purposes of this section “guardian” includes any person who has in law or in fact the custody or control of a minor.”

Explanation of Section 25(1) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

Section 25 (1) provides for the situation where the minor can have his or her surname change. Most of the reasons mentioned sound logical. However, what happens in the case of a father wanting to change the child’s surname to his surname and the child was born out of wedlock? Well, in that case, section 25 (2) comes with an answer.

Section 25 (2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992

According to section 25(2), the father of the illegitimate child can make an application to the Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs for the change of the minor child’s surname born out of wedlock. However, if the mother is still alive, both parents must consent to the application. If, however, the mother does not consent to it, the father would have to make an application to the High Court to dispense with the mother’s consent and for the Director-General to apply their mind without the consent of the mother.

Court Application in relation to a surname of a child born out of wedlock

Should there be an application to Court, as just mentioned, the Court would have to look at what is in the best interests of the minor child. Various factors would be looked at. It is however suggested that ego reasons should not be the justification for making the application. In other words, the father wants the child to have his surname solely due to him being the father, even though the mother cares for the minor child.

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

How does one get divorced in South Africa? Adv. Muhammad Abduroaf unpacks the legal process in a simplified manner.
Written by Adv. Muhammad Abduroaf – LL.B LL.M Advocate of the High Court of South Africa

Legal Advice on getting divorced

If you want to get divorced from your spouse, I strongly advise that you approach a legal practitioner, or an attorney to attend to it on your behalf. This I would implore even more under the following circumstances: – There will be a dispute over care and visitation rights over the child/children; – One of the parties will be applying for forfeiture of patrimonial benefits from a marriage in community of property; – The joint estate is huge or complicated; or – The other party will be making use of legal representation.

If, however, you would like to know the general procedures on how to go about in obtaining a divorce decree; they are listed summarily below. Many rules regulate divorce processes and the summary below does exclude some of them. These include exceptions, strikeouts, compelling compliance, service addresses etc. Other matters incidental to divorce proceedings, e.g. interim arrangements pending the divorce regarding maintenance for you or your children and care and contact regarding children are not dealt with. Therefore, please consult a legal practitioner or the divorce court throughout your divorce process should you decide to do the divorce yourself.

Summons and Particulars of Claim

A summons needs to be drafted which should be issued by the divorce court to commence the divorce process. It should have on it the details of the court you will be issuing the divorce from, details of the parties, e.g. names, occupation, and address, etc. Every High Court in the area where you live has the authority to attend to a divorce. You may also approach the Magistrate’s Court. Each court has its own rules and procedures. You should then draft a document called “particulars of claim” outlining relevant matters concerning the marriage, children, reasons for wanting a divorce and what do you want the court to grant you in a divorce order. This particulars of claim you attach to the summons. Once you have your summons and particulars of claim in order, you have to have the summons issued. To do this, make three (3) copies of your set of documents (summons and particulars of Claim) and have it issued at court. Other documents may have to be attached as well.

Issuing and Service of the Divorce Summons

Once you are at the court, go to the clerk/registrar of the court and have your documents issued. The clerk/registrar will sign the summons and provide a case number and write it on the summons. You should then take the original and a copy (both must be signed and stamped by the clerk/registrar of the court) and take it to the sheriff which serves documents where your spouse works or lives. You can ask the clerk/registrar of the court for those details. The extra—copy of the summons and particulars of claim you keep for your file and records.

Notice of intention to defend the divorce

Once the sheriff served the documents, your spouse has two weeks to inform you whether he or she will be defending the divorce. This information is outlined in the summons. If your spouse decided not to defend the divorce action, then after two weeks has elapsed, you may set the matter down as an undefended divorce. If your spouse intends to defend the divorce, he or she would then have to do as outlined next.

Plea to particulars of claim in divorces

Once you received notice of your spouse’s intention to defend the divorce, about a month later, your spouse or his or attorney should serve and file a plea. The plea should outline which parts of your particulars of claim your spouse agree (or disagree) with which would give everyone an indication of what to prove at court.

Counter Claim in Divorce Actions

Your spouse might want to file a counter-claim. In the same way, which you outlined your case as to what you want from the court and the reasons therefore in your particulars of claim, your spouse can file on you as well a counter-claim. A counter-claim might still be filed if your spouse agrees to a divorce, but maybe wants primary care of the children, but in your particulars of claim, you asked for primary care. You should then within 10 (ten) days plead to the counter-claim in the same manner in which your spouse pleaded to your particulars of claim.

Discovery in divorce cases

While you are waiting for a trial date, and way before the trial, you may ask, or may be asked to provide under oath a schedule of books and documents in your possession and under your control relating to the divorce. This could be policy documents, deeds etc, and which you or your spouse might want to make use of at trial. Once you received these schedules you may inspect and request copies of the documents.

Obtaining a trial date for the divorce

Once you received the plea, without a counter-claim, or have pleaded to your spouses counter-claim, you should then approach the clerk/registrar of the court for a trial date. This you or your spouse may do. Please note that certain courts may have other procedures that need to first be adhered to before obtaining a trial date. For example pre-trial conferences before a judicial officer etc.

Divorce day / Trial date (Finalising the Divorce)

If your spouse does not defend the divorce within the period mentioned above, go back to court and ask for an unopposed divorce date and attend to your divorce on that date. If however your divorce is defended, a trial should ensure. During the trial, each party will prove his or her case. Witnesses will be called and at the end, the Magistrate or Judge will deliver the judgment. Best of luck, and please, don’t take my word, contact a legal practitioner should you decide to get divorced. Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf (Cape Town | Western Cape LL.B & LL.M (Master of Laws) Constitutional Litigation – Advocate of the High Court of South Africa – Member of the Legal Practice Council of South Africa We are certain that you found the above article useful and interesting. Please consider sharing it on the share buttons below. They include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WhatsApp, Gmail and more. Someone may find it useful as well. Should you require business advice or services, feel free to click on these links: Business SA | Private Legal | Envirolaws

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

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