Read the latest legal news, updates and commentary from the offices of Simon Dippenaar & Associates.
If your matter is part of a broader cross-border divorce (foreign spouse, service abroad, children or assets overseas), start here: International Divorce in South Africa. What is the Hague Convention and what does it do? You might have heard of the Hague Convention but you’re not sure what it is. If you have children, particularly […]
Addicted parents – balancing rights with responsibilities With every right comes a responsibility. In no sphere of life is this more true than when it comes to parenting. Do parents have a right to see their children? Yes, they do. But the rights and best interests of the child take precedence. There are circumstances in […]
Trust-to-trust: Is a trust an option to ring-fence a maintenance obligation upon divorce? Reprinted from iol.co.za, by Phia van der Spuy – 2021-11-04 A trust has various uses. A trust is a useful tool to utilise in a divorce settlement whereby a divorce settlement can be transferred into a trust and be applied for the […]
Navigating co-parenting decision-making for major decisions When a married couple with a child or children divorces, they may both hold parental responsibilities and rights for their child. In many circumstances, they may each act without the consent of the other. This often happens when the child’s primary residence is with one parent, who is then […]
Hayi bo! Are we married or not? Most couples know if they are married. They have held a wedding and invited friends and family, often at great expense. Or they have taken two witnesses and visited their local Department of Home Affairs for a simple ceremony. There should be no uncertainty about the answer to […]
What are the rights and responsibilities of unmarried mothers and fathers? We’ve written a lot about the rights…and responsibilities…of parents in the event of divorce. As divorce attorneys, you would expect this of us. But SD Law is not just a firm of divorce lawyers. We are family lawyers. And families come in all shapes […]
If your matter is part of a broader cross-border divorce (foreign spouse, service abroad, children or assets overseas), start here: International Divorce in South Africa. Can I relocate overseas with my child and new partner? The thought of travelling anywhere right now is little more than wishful thinking, but the pandemic won’t last forever. Italy […]
See our guides: Antenuptial Contract South Africa Guide 2026 Divorce Property Division in South Africa (2026): Estates, Assets & Accrual A fair regime, but how is the accrual calculated? No one marries intending to divorce. We’re sure that Bill and Melinda Gates would never have imagined, 27 years ago when they tied the knot, that […]
“Silver splitters” – what are the issues for later-life divorce? The average age for divorce in South Africa is 41 for women and 45 for men. 44% of divorces happen between five and nine years of marriage. But there is a growing trend for couples to divorce later in life, personified in the high-profile divorce […]
It may sound odd, but children can benefit from their parents’ divorce Much has been written about the damage caused to children by divorce, but is there another side to the story? Are there ways in which children benefit from divorce? Experts believe they can and do. Let’s look at some of the ways divorce […]
Western Cape High Court File picture: Africa News Agency (ANA) Reprinted from the Cape Times, by Chevon Booysen – 2020-10-01 Cape Town – Heterosexual life partners are now eligible to inherit from each other after the Western Cape High Court ruled that a section in the Intestate Succession Act (ISA) is unconstitutional and invalid. The […]
It’s time to free yourself from your manipulative former husband, says Mariella Frostrup Reprinted from the Guardian – 2020-09-06 This reader’s dilemma from the UK’s Guardian newspaper caught our eye. It is not uncommon for divorced co-parents to continue in an emotionally dependent and unhealthy relationship. The constant contact of raising children can make it […]
