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

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

What to do before visiting the East London Children’s Court

Before you approach the Children’s Court in East London, 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. East London 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 East London 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 East London Children’s Court

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

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 East London Children’s Court

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

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

Posted on 11 February 2025 by Telelaw

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

What to do before visiting the East London Children’s Court

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 East London Children’s Court

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 East London.

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 East London Children’s Court

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 East London Children’s Court

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;

Finalising the matter in the East London Children’s Court

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

Parental Rights of Divorced Muslim parents who were only married in terms of Muslim Rights (Updated)
When Muslim parents divorce, either via a Talak or Faskh, there remains the unresolved issue of their respective parental rights and responsibilities to their children. In other words, with whom should the child reside, and what type of visitation rights should the other parent have? Then there is the issue of child maintenance, parental guardianship consent and so on. Parents married in terms of South African civil law have the advantage of having the civil divorce court deal with the issue of access (contact) and custody (care). The civil divorce court is obliged to do this before pronouncing a final decree of divorce. This is however not the case of a Talak or Faskh. As you would see later, we suggest that Muslim divorced parents enter into a parenting plan.
Divorced Muslim Fathers’ parental rights
Muslim fathers, who were married in terms of Muslim Rites, have just as many rights as the mothers, to their children. This is so notwithstanding them having been married in terms of Islamic Rights only (and not civilly). From a South African Legal perspective, they are both co-holders of parental responsibilities and rights with regard to their minor children. What often happens is that one parent refuses the other reasonable contact to the child after the divorce. Or he or she may take the stance that he or she is the sole decider as to where and when the other parent may have contact with the children. This is not lawful and clearly not in the children’s best interests. The end result is, for example, the father takes the mother to the High Court, or the Children’s Court and the Judge or Magistrate confirms the father’s rights which he had all along. This can turn out to be very expensive, and draining on the children and parents alike. Attorneys and Advocates may be used and simple issues get battled out in the public domain. A more responsible approach needs to be followed which is suggested next.

What should Muslim parents do after they separated?

Should parents who were married in terms of Muslim Rites and have a child or children together, separate, it is suggested that they, as soon as possible, try to agree on a parenting plan and have it registered with the Office of the Family Advocate or have it made an Order of Court. This option became available since 1 April 2010 with the coming into effect of section 33 of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. If a parent refuses to try to agree on a parenting plan, the Court needs to be approached if issues cannot be resolved. This situation is best to be avoided. The parenting plan would be a document which the parents themselves decided upon and not dictated to them by the Court. Of course, the parenting plan has to be in the child or children’s best interests. By parents following the parenting plan route, they would keep their personal issues out of the realm of the Court and concentrate on being the best parents they can be for their children. This is so, notwithstanding their relationship with each other has severed.

Drafting a Parenting Plan

A well-drafted parenting plan would provide for issues, starting from the date of its drafting, until the children are adults. Suppose the children are toddlers when the parents separated; the parenting plan would need to deal with issues that could arise when it comes to schooling, extramural activities and issues of consent for a passport and so on. As the child gets older, he or she may want to spend more time with the other parent. This needs to be dealt with in the parenting plan, if applicable. The parenting plan can also make reference to a parenting facilitator or coordinator to assist the parents in resolving disputes in the future.

Who can assist you with a parenting plan?

Social workers, psychologists and family mediators are well suited to assist parents with parenting plans. Other suitably qualified persons would be attorneys and advocates. If the person has the necessary training and experience to assist you, we advise that you make use of him or her to assist you in obtaining a parenting plan. 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

Appeals and Reviews – How does it work?

Appeals in court cases typically involve requesting a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court. For example, approaching the High Court to review the decision in the Magistrates Court matter. The process usually begins with filing a notice of appeal, outlining the grounds for the appeal and providing the necessary documents to support the case.

The appellate court will then review the lower court’s decision and determine whether any errors were made. If successful, the appellate court may either overturn the decision, order a new trial, or modify the original ruling. It’s important to seek legal assistance to navigate the complexities of the appeals process effectively. If you need legal assistance with appeals or reviews, consider reaching out to a qualified attorney or advocate for guidance.

Getting Legal Assistance with Appeals

If you require legal assistance or representation with your appeal matter, then feel free to contact us for assistance. The Firm Advocate, Muhammad Abduroaf, deals with these types of matters.

[gallery]

How much child support should you claim or pay?

[caption id="attachment_7076" align="alignleft" width="230"]

Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf – Advocate of the High Court of South Africa[/caption] It is not only mothers who want to know how much maintenance they should claim. Fathers are very much interested in wanting to know how much they should pay. It is my view that there is nothing wrong with a father wanting to know whether or not he is paying too much maintenance. This is so as it is both parent’s responsibilities to maintain a child according to their means. However, what I do have the issue with is when fathers try to avoid their maintenance obligations. Even if you are unemployed, you can still pay maintenance depending on your means. And then you have mothers who want to exploit the fathers. The same applies when the roles are reversed. This is when the father is the primary caregiver and the mother pays him child support. – Adv. Muhammad Abduroaf LL.B LL.M – Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. Purchase a Consultation with us from our Online Shop, by clicking here.

Common child maintenance questions

How much child support should I claim for my child?
How much child support should I pay for my children?
The father of my child is unemployed, should I still claim child support?

These are two questions which are posed to me regularly. But what is the answer? What follows are certain factors I use to determine the amount of child support my clients should claim or pay when dealing with a child support matter.

Factors to consider regarding child support amounts

There are many factors to consider when it comes to figures in child support matters. Some are common to most people. However, depending on the situation, they won’t be the same for everyone. Remember, the explanation below is provided for information purposes only. The formula I follow is as follows:

What are the reasonable monthly needs of the child? If you can place an amount to it, do so.
The monthly income and expenses of both parents. The assets of the parents should also be considered should they not have an income or be unemployed.
What can each parent reasonably contribute towards the monthly expenses of the child?

Want to know more about Rule 43 Applications in the High Court and Rule 58 Applications in the Magistrates’ Court? Click here.

Reasonable needs of a child – Basic Maintenance Question

The reasonable needs of a child include food, clothing, accommodation, medical expenses and so on. Depending on the standard of living of the parents, or what the child is accustomed to, as seen later, it could include extramural expenses, the upkeep of a pony, and piano lessons. Once you determined what the child’s needs are, and what the parents can afford, you can determine what each parent should contribute. This amount should factor in once off yearly expenses. For example, school fees, TV and Car licenses and membership fees and so on. Let me explain this by way of example. Purchase a Consultation with us from our Online Shop, by clicking here.

Income and expenses of child and parents

Child’s expense: R 1 000 – 00.
Custodian Parent’s income: R 10 000 – 00.
Custodian Parent’s monthly expenses: R 5 000 – 00.
Paying parent’s income: R 20 000 – 00.
Paying parent’s monthly expenses: R 10 000 – 00.

Considering the above example, the paying parent earns double that of the custodian parent. And his or her monthly expenses are proportionately the same as that of the has parent. Therefore, if all else being equal, his or her contribution should be double of that of the custodian parent. If the paying parent becomes unemployed, his maintenance obligations does nott come to an end. He may have other means. If he has a flashy car, he needs to downgrade and use some of that money for maintenance.

Final child maintenance amount:

The Paying parent would pay two thirds of the child’s expenses which equates to R 666 – 00 per month. And the custodian parent would thus cover the balance of R 334 – 00 per month. The R 666 – 00 would be less should he pay any of the minor child’s expenses directly. For example, medical aid or school fees.

The challenge regarding child maintenance amounts

The golden rule in all matters regarding children is that their best interest be upheld. However, in child maintenance matters it is not as easy as saying that the child needs to have the best of clothes, education, and food available. By taking this view, it would be as saying that during the parents’ marriage, or while the parents lived together, the child went to the best school in the area, wore the best of clothes and ate the best of food. This is so, notwithstanding the parents earning a far below average income. Such a legal approach would be nonsensical. Another challenge is when the paying parent is self-employed or unemployed. In the case of self-employed parents, their income varies. However, what we look at is the average they earn each month. For an unemployed parent, as stated, we look at their means.

Factors the Court considers in Child Maintenance Matters

Each child maintenance case is determined on its own merits by weighing various factors. There are certain overlapping factors. The factors to consider are:

The reasonable needs of the minor child;
The reasonable expenses of the parents;
The standard of living the child was accustomed to while the parties were married or living together (if applicable);
The earning capacity of the parents; and
The assets of the parents.

Therefore, it does not mean every 5-year-old child will require a child maintenance contribution of R 500 00 (five hundred rands). A contribution of R 500 – 00 for a specific 5-year-old child might be reasonable or even too high, depending on the circumstances. Let me provide you with two scenarios: Purchase a Consultation with us from our Online Shop, by clicking here.

Scenario A – Child Maintenance

A 5-year-old child’s parents each earns R 500 – 00 per month. They were bringing up the child perfectly under the circumstances with their modest standard of living which is the norm in the area they live in. Furthermore, this is the same standard the parents were accustomed to when they were raised by their parents. If they are to estimate the costs of the child, it would be about R 200 – 00 per month which goes to food, shelter, clothes etc. Should the parents separate or divorce, and, let’s say in this case, the mother claims maintenance from the father for child support, she would not have a case for more than R 150 – 00 per month. You might wonder why I don’t say R 100 – 00 per month seeing that the parents earned the same salary? The mother in this scenario had to find alternative accommodation, and therefore the child would require more maintenance (it could even be less).

Scenario B – Child Maintenance

Let’s say the parents of a 5-year-old child each earns R 50 000 – 00 per month. The child has an au pair, own room, policies in his or her favour, expensive clothes, medical aid, expensive creams, attends ballet and violin classes etc. The monthly costs of this child are about R 25 000 – 00 per month. Should the parents separate, a claim for maintenance could easily be in the region of R 15 000 – 00. R 14 850 – 00 more than the 5-year-old child in the previous scenario above. The amount to pay therefore all depends on the facts, circumstances etc. To make things more complicated, if the mother in this scenario have assets worth millions and the father only owns a car of R 100 000 – 00, his contribution could be far less than R 15 000 – 00, even if they have the same monthly salary. It is even possible that his contribution could be R 150 – 00 (and not R 15 000 – 00) as in the case of scenario A above. All these factors have to be discussed with your maintenance lawyer or advocate. I hope this gave you a feel for how child support or child maintenance is calculated. Therefore, in answering the questions posed above, i.e. How much child support should you claim for your child, and how much child maintenance should you pay; the answer is, it depends on the facts.

Other maintenance calculation views

You or your attorney or advocate might have one view on what the amount should be, however the other parent or the maintenance court might have a totally different view. I therefore strongly advise that you first consult with a maintenance lawyer or advocate, or the maintenance court before submitting your amount to the court. In complicated cases, an advocate may be approached by your attorney for an opinion. Sharing is Caring 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 and posts interesting, or possibly useful to others, please link and share it on Social media.

Should you require any other legal services and advice, not related to family law, visit Private Legal or Business SA.