Legal Articles and Guides
Deadline to register customary marriage looms
Couples in unregistered customary marriages have until 31 August 2026 to register these unions with the Department of Home Affairs.
Man turns to SCA to appeal paternity ruling
A Cape Town man has launched an application in the SCA seeking special leave to challenge a Western Cape High Court judgment that affirmed a lower court's finding that he is the biological father of the child, reports IoL.
Actress’ R87 000 a month claim dismissed
The Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg has dismissed a renowned actress and TV presenter’s urgent application for interim maintenance from her estranged DJ and singer/songwriter husband.
Mother must return child to Denmark-based SA father
A mother, who clandestinely took her six-year-old child from where she and her now estranged husband lived in Denmark, has now been ordered to return the child to her husband in Denmark, reports IoL.
Landmark ruling ends parental leave bias
In a far-reaching judgment, the Constitutional Court on Friday effectively granted all parents – regardless of gender, sex, colour or circumstances – equal parental leave rights.
Ramaphosa’s office rebuffs Mabuza pension saga
The office of President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the R44m dispute over late former Deputy President David Mabuza’s pension money as a family matter ‘that has nothing to do with the Pesident nor the Presidency’.
Warning for unmarried couples living together
Standard Bank has warned unmarried couples living together that they risk great uncertainty or lengthy legal battles if they don’t have their affairs in order.
'Sperm donor' must pay child support, says judge
A Johannesburg man’s attempt to avoid paying maintenance for his twin children by claiming he was merely a sperm donor has been dismissed by the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg).
Customary and civil marriages cannot co-exist
It is not legally possible for both a customary marriage and a civil marriage to co-exist. Parties are either married by customary law or by civil law, Limpopo High Court (Polokwane) Acting Judge M Mangena said to a couple.
Father gets jail term over child support non-payment
A father who was errant in paying his court-ordered maintenance has been ordered to serve jail time if he does not pay his arrears owed to the mother of his two minor children.
Widow wins landmark sperm case
A widow has won a landmark legal case confirming she is entitled to use the frozen sperm of her dead husband to have another child.
Grandmother awarded rights for grandchildren
Facing an appeal by a father against a lower court order that his two sons’ grandmother may have contact with them, Eastern Cape High Court (Makanda) Judge JW Eksteen remarked that ‘grandparents, like heroes, are as necessary to a child’s growth as vitamins.’
Hidden marriage sparks dispute after husband’s death
A husband who was married to two wives and took this secret to his grave resulted in a legal tussle between the wives as to who is the legal spouse and stands to benefit from his estate.
Father wins fight to keep children in SA
A Johannesburg father has won a battle to keep his two children in the country after relatives of his late estranged wife sought to take them to Scotland.
Widow seeks rights to deceased husband’s frozen sperm
A widow is pinning her hopes on the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) to grant her ownership of reproductive material kept at a fertility clinic after her husband died.
