Relocation – Refusal of Consent for passport and removal
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Relocation of minor children with a parent. What does the Courts and Family Advocate look at?
Relocating with your minor child where the consent of the other parent is provided is ideal. If consent is not provided, then the Court would need to get involved. This applies to both local (example, provincial relocation) and international (moving abroad). Our High Court often hear applications for relocation of minor children. Sometimes the issues are simple, and other times, less so. However, the ultimate question is whether or not it is in the minor child’s best interest.High Court getting involved in minor children relocation matters
In the unreported judgment of CG v NG 2015 JDR 0391 (GJ), the Applicant, being the mother, approached the Gauteng High Court for permission to relocate with her minor children from Gauteng to Cape Town. We shall not deal with the history and all the facts of the matter, save for the important principles applied to the relevant facts. In this matter, the Office of the Family Advocate was called upon to provide a report as to the intended relocation. This they did and which the Court considered. That is illustrated in the judgment below.Extracts of a Judgemnet of the High Court in a Relocation of minor children matter
The following aspects of the judgement would be of benefit:[22] The ruling on the postponement leaves this court to deal with the only remaining issue between the parties and that is whether or not the Applicant should relocate to Cape Town with the minor children. The law on matters of relocation is clear. The relocation must be in the best interest of the minor children as is prescribed in the Children’s Act No. 38of 2005. In addition, an applicant in the position of the Applicant is at liberty to relocate with minor children provided his or her intention is bona fide and reasonable. The test applies to both relocation within the borders of South Africa and abroad. See Jackson v Jackson 2002 SA 303 (SCA) and B v M 2006 (9) BCLR 1034 (W) to which Counsel for the Applicant referred this court. [23] Accordingly, the following two questions arise: 23.1 Is the proposed relocation in the best interest of the minor children? 23.2 Is the Applicant’s intended move bona fide and reasonable? [24] Whether or not an applicant’s proposed move is bona fide and reasonable should be a factual enquiry. Needless to state therefore that each case must be assessed on its own merits. The Applicant has been living in Johannesburg, xxx, while married to the Respondent and to date she continues to do so. [25] Her relationship with the Respondent has become estranged a result of which she now holds the view that it will benefit her to be next to her family, mother, father brother and sister-in-law all of whom are in the area of Cape Town, xxx. [26] Her family will give her the emotional support that she cannot get in Johannesburg. Furthermore, once the minor children are settled, her mother will give her support by fetching them from school such that she could start looking for employment. [27] As the primary custodian parent of the minor children, her move to Cape Town will of necessity be in their best interest. She does not see herself being separated from them as that will prejudice her relationship with them. Her proposed move to Cape Town is supported by her psychologists, Ms Becker and, Ms Chelvers. [28] The Applicant asserts further that the Respondent whom she describes as ‘exceedingly wealthy’ can still exercise his rights as per the orders of Van Oosten and Victor JJ. She does not foresee any problems whether financially or otherwise for The Respondent to fly to Cape Town to see the children as he does presently in Johannesburg. [29] In response to the Applicant’s averments, the respondent alleges that it will not be possible for him to travel to Cape Town on a weekly or monthly basis as this will necessarily involve increased costs for him. Moreover, it will take him away from his only source of income, his work. [30] The relocation of the minor children means that he will have to seek accommodation in Cape Town, transport and time off work in order to exercise his rights. His ability to generate income will be immensely impaired and that could have devastating repercussions for both the minor children and the Applicant especially as she is unemployed and fully dependent on the monthly maintenance that he pays. [31] The Family Advocate unequivocally recommends that the status quo be maintained because to move the minor children to Cape Town will reverse the stability that has prevailed since the introduction of the increased access by their father. The Applicant herself has agreed that all three minor children like their father and that they cannot wait to visit him. The Family Advocate also alludes to the fact that Gabriel, the eldest of the minor children appears settled with her friends at school. [32] Moving them to Cape Town under these circumstances could upset their routine and bring unnecessary shock to their lives at the time when they are beginning to settle. The Family Advocate is an expert in these kind of matters and he undoubtedly compiled the report with the best interest of the minor children in mind. This court has no reason to doubt the outcome and accordingly adopts it. [33] In the result, the following order is made:
The application is dismissed;
The Applicant is ordered to pay the costs as between attorney and client.
From the above it is clear that the Court looked at various factors, as well as the report of the Office of the Family Advocate.
The application is dismissed;
The Applicant is ordered to pay the costs as between attorney and client.
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Relocation with my minor child to Germany, Berlin (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 Berlin, Germany
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 one or two) 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 Simon’s Town or Phalaborwa, South Africa, and you want to relocate to Berlin, Germany, 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 Berlin, Germany?
The same applies when it comes to your minor child applying for a South African passport to relocate to Germany, 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 Berlin, Germany with my minor child? There is there 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 Berlin, Germany. What can I do if the other parent does not want to consent to the minor child’s relocation to Berlin, Germany?
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 Berlin, Germany, 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 Berlin, Germany. 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 Berlin, Germany, 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 Berlin, Germany?
If the other parent does not want to consent to the passport application and/or the relocation of the minor child to Berlin, Germany – 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 Berlin, Germany, 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 Berlin, Germany
If you require legal assistance or representation with relocating to Berlin, Germany 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.
Posted on by Telelaw