Family Law
– What is Family Law
Custody is the protective care or guardianship of someone or something, in the case of family law we specifically refer to custody over minors or those who cannot care for themselves. This is regulated by the Children’s Act 38 of 2005.
Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage by a court or other competent body.
Research has found the most common reasons people give for their divorce are lack of commitment, too much arguing, infidelity, marrying too young, unrealistic expectations, lack of equality in the relationship, lack of preparation for marriage, and abuse.
Divorce can be a very difficult and emotional time in a person’s life and therefore it is of the utmost importance to ensure that you have someone who will look out for your best interest and who will fight for your rights. These rights and procedures are regulated by the Divorce Act 70 of 1979.
Maintenance usually refers to spousal support or to the support provided by a parent to a child. Maintenance may also be an order of court in which one individual is ordered to support another individual or other individuals. this is regulated by the Maintenance Act 99 of 1998.
Adoption is when an individual (an adult) becomes the guardian of a child/children and takes on all the rights and responsibilities of a parent for that child/children. The adoption relationship is of such a legal nature that the adopted child/children become legal heirs of the individual who adopts them.
Domestic violence is when there is violence or abuse in a domestic setting such as in a marriage or intimate relationship and may take many different forms such as, but not limited to, physical abuse, emotional abuse, mental abuse, sexual abuse or financial abuse. This is regulated by the Domestic violence Act 116 of 1998.