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

 

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

What to do before visiting the Nelspruit Children’s Court

Before you approach the Children’s Court in Nelspruit, 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. Nelspruit 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 Nelspruit 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 Nelspruit Children’s Court

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

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 Nelspruit Children’s Court

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

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

Posted on by Telelaw

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

 

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

What to do before visiting the Nelspruit Children’s Court

Before you approach the Children’s Court in Nelspruit, 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. Nelspruit 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 Nelspruit 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 Nelspruit Children’s Court

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

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 Nelspruit Children’s Court

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

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

Related Post

Top tips and tricks from a Senior Family Law Advocate on claiming maintenance for a five-year-old child in Jagersfontein.

Child Maintenance is the right of the child, and not that of the parent. It is also not a privilege granted to parents who must pay it. It is their duty to pay child maintenance and support their children. Once the child is self-supporting (being able to care for him or herself), the obligation falls away. This can happen when the child is 18, 20, or even 30. It all depends on the circumstances of the case.

Claiming child maintenance for your child in Jagersfontein

Whether you claim child maintenance in Jagersfontein, or any other city in South Africa, the procedures would be the same. There are however two (2) courts that can deal with child maintenance matters. That is a divorce court, in a divorce matter, and a Child Maintenance Court. For this article, we will focus on claiming maintenance in a Maintenance Court matter in Jagersfontein.

The maintenance scenario – Jagersfontein South Africa

In this article, we will deal with the following fictitious scenario, in a child maintenance matter:

  1. The Child is seven years old and attends school in Jagersfontein
  2. The child is cared for by the mother who works in Jagersfontein
  3. The mother works and earns a Salary of R 10 000
  4. The father sees the child every second weekend. He also lives and works in Jagersfontein
  5. The child’s monthly expenses are R 6000 – 00 which includes food, clothing, accommodation, education, travel etc.
  6. The father earns a reasonable salary and can afford the R 20 000 – 00 per month
  7. The mother claims R 4 000 – 00 maintenance as the father earns double her salary

What is the first step the mother must take in claiming child maintenance?

The first thing the mother must do is work out exactly what the child costs by item. She breaks down the minor child’s living expenses, starting from rent or accommodation to groceries to school fees etc. Once she has done that, she would need to determine what exactly does the minor child cost per month, seeing that she will be asking the father to contribute towards that. As best as possible, she needs to collect proof of expenses. This can be in the form of receipts.

How does she start the legal process?

The mother now needs to approach the maintenance court in the area where she lives or works to lodge a complaint for child maintenance. If she lives or works in Jagersfontein, it would be the maintenance court in Jagersfontein. She will complete a Form A wherein she will provide all the expenses for her and the minor child. She would also have to stipulate her income. Once she completed the form and submitted it to the maintenance court, she must then follow the next step.

What do you do while waiting for the maintenance court date?

While you wait to be informed of the court date by the Maintenance Court of Jagersfontein, and up until the actual first court date, you need to ensure that you keep a record of all income and expenses for you and the child. This is very important as the court allocates maintenance based on recent income and expenses.

What happens at the first court appearance at the Jagersfontein Maintenance Court?

Once you have been notified of the maintenance court date by the Jagersfontein Maintenance Court, you need to ensure that you attend it. On that day, both you and the father of the child would appear before a maintenance officer. The maintenance officer would go through both your income and expenses as well as that of the father. If all the relevant information is not before the maintenance court, then the matter may be postponed in order for the parties to submit it.

The maintenance officer will try to settle the matter and have the parents come to an agreement regarding the amount of child maintenance to be paid. If they cannot come to an agreement regarding the child maintenance to be paid, the matter would have to proceed to a formal hearing or trial before a Magistrate.

How does the Maintenance Court hearing or trial work in Jagersfontein?

Essentially, the maintenance court is called upon to make a fair ruling regarding what is a fair amount of child support that needs to be paid. For that to happen, the parents would have to give evidence in that regard. The mother would present to the court what the child costs, what she contributes and what she requires the other parent to pay. The Father would have a right to question the mother and to present evidence as to why he cannot afford the amount requested or why he feels it is an unfair amount. The mother can they also question him.

At the end of the day, the Jagersfontein Maintenance Court would be able to properly determine what is a fair and adequate amount of child maintenance to pay after being presented will all relevant information. The Jagersfontein Maintenance Court should play an active role in determining what is a fair amount of child maintenance the father should pay.

The above child maintenance application principles 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, Jagersfontein, Constantia, George, Hopefield, Oudtshoorn, Paarl, Simon’s Town, Stellenbosch, Swellendam, Worcester

 

 

 

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Questions posted on Live Q and A with Advocate Muhammad Abduroaf

12 questions posed when registering on www.ourlawyer.co.za/live Question 1 Western Cape I have a restraining order against the mother of my child as she harasses myself and my family. I pay my maintenance however she refuses to let me see my son. It’s been almost a year now and I have reached out to social workers as well as mediation for a parenting plan but so far, no assistance – PLEASE HELP Question 2 Kwazulu Natal Divorced since 2013. Settlement agreement in place and through the years the maintenance amount stated on that agreement has changed. This year we relocated and my daughter was given the opportunity to live with her school principal in order to finish her Gr7 year in an excellent school. Her father notified me that he will not pay her maintenance to me because she is not in my care. He has not paid it to anyone else either. He gave her pocket money and paid the school fees which has always been separate from the maintenance amount. Please advise. Question 3 Western Cape My husband has been paying maintenance for 21 years. The child does not go to school and he has a garnish order that was supposed to stop in November 2021. He went to court for 2 days an filled the paperwork but the papers were still not delivered to the mother. Can you pls give advice as to how to stop the garnish order? Question 4 Eastern Cape I have a case with my baby’s dad. He doesn’t want to pay the amount. I went to the court and when they asked him how much he will afford. He said “I don’t know”. Now he said he wants the lawyer and he’s complaining that I’m not giving the child where’s he knows very well that in his house they always drunk and fighting with his wife and he demand that his wife is the one who supposed to buy my child’s clothes. My question is it a must? Question 5 Gauteng I need a brief summary of citizenship law democracy and the constitution module. With regards to you and your family. Question 6 Western Cape   Hi. We have a parenting plan in place. Note that normal drop off on every alternate Sunday is at 5pm. With school holidays it’s supposed to be 50/50 so father picks up on Friday and drops the kids the following Friday. This past school holidays. Father decided the Sunday he can’t take the kids for his school week and with me pushing back. He ended up dropping kids at my workplace at 9pm on a Sunday night. Note that I was not at work and he then dropped the kids at my parent’s place at 10pm. What can I do? Question 7 Western Cape My husband left me and our baby when she was 4 months old and went overseas. Despite asking him a million times to pay maintenance he always says he doesn’t have money but is a sales director for a big hotel group in Dubai. He has not contributed a cent to our child and I recently lost my job. What is the process of getting him or forcing him legally to pay maintenance? Question 8 Western Cape Afternoon. My daughter passed away in Feb 2021. L my daughter and M were married. M was 5 and Z 5 days. M moved in with my sister where she looked after the children. After 6 months he moved in with his mom. Now we don’t see them often. I saw them last 5 November 2021 when a social worker contacted him where he told them not to speak to him but to his lawyer. He doesn’t want to meet with me and the social worker. I would love to see them once or twice a month but he refuses. Question 9 Gauteng What do we do when the father is being denied access to the child? The mother claims her family is the one controlling the situation. The grandmother of the child was the mediator the whole time and now she has passed away. What steps should we follow to make things right? Question 10 Gauteng After 22 years my husband left me for another woman. At the time he unlawfully evicted me. I didn’t know it was against the law then. I ended up giving notice as the lease was on my name just to get to my personal and the kids’ stuff. Yet he took everything. Emptied my business account. The car that was supposed to be registered in my company name he registered behind my back in his name. This all happened 2021. End of July he disappeared. Kept on telling me because I can’t give him the original marriage certificate, I’m delaying the process. I got a lawyer but after still no summons he ended up refunding me. My eldest turned 18 last year. She just got her matric results with 3 distinctions. My youngest is turning 18 in February this year. I manage to serve him for maintenance under rule 58. He basically took my clients because of his lies. I tried to get a job again in the industry I worked for years. However, he worked in the same industry. Due to his misconduct I lost my job again when the final MIE check came back. I have been unable to find a job since then. He supplied me with stock to continue with the few clients I had left. But it’s always on his terms. Leaving me basically with income when it suits him. My eldest daughter filed her own maintenance claim. As he now sees it as a privilege if he pays for her varsity. She got a full scholarship for high school because of academic and sport. She was deputy head. I managed to get the papers signed on him in a parking lot as none of us knows where he lives. After that I am completely without income. I have moved into a house close to varsity because of all the promises that was made. Now I’m stuck with even more bills. I have never denied him to see his kids yet he has seen them at most 5 hours. And then only in a mall. How do I ensure that he assist with the necessary? I have no income and the amount he pays depends on the day. I also applied for loans purely for business use. To increase stock. He took all the stock as well yet I’m now stuck with all the loans. Again. No fix income. Any advice that can help me be ready as I’m due in court on the 20th of Jan 2022. He strongly believes that he no longer needs to pay maintenance once they turn 18. As it is, he stopped the eldest pocket money as she is an adult now. Please any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you know he has the money. Question 11 Western Cape Maintenance order that I want to contest. As my ex-wife was working whilst we were married. Now that we are divorced for 3 and half years and I moved on she still living with my mother in a second dwelling as property is huge. When I got married last year September, she went ballistic as I’m not living there right now I make it my responsibility to get up at 6 am and go fetch in the morning for school when my ex leaves at 630 am or when she works from home I still do it. So i don’t have access to my child when it concerns my weekend with him. I’m blocked by him and her as his WhatsApp messages is link to her phone I have absolutely no rights in this settlement as I paid maintenance but cannot have access to my child knowing that she listening in on our conversation. This Christmas had no access she took him away with no consent as always even now never saw him since last year 23 December. Question 12 Gauteng Good day. The father of my children refuses to pay maintenance for December. I asked.    

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