The Voice of the Child is a phrase used to describe the real involvement of children. Children should have the opportunity to describe things from their point of view. They should be continually involved, and have information fed back to them in a way that they can understand. The
To relocate with children is not always that easy and the main consideration will always be what is in their best interests. Relocation within the Republic: The Children’s Act does not set out consent procedures for relocation within the country. The Act does stipulate however that co-holders of guardianship
Care & Contact Assessments are statutory investigations determining the best care and contact arrangements between a child, or children, and all co-holders of parental rights. Social workers or other forensic practitioners are qualified to conduct Care & Contact Assessments at the request of the court. Care & Contact Assessments
Guardianship is an adults’ right and responsibility. In terms of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 a person who acts as a guardian must: 1) Administer and safeguard the child’s property and property interests; 2) Assist or represent the child in administrative, contractual and other legal matters; or 3)
It is common knowledge that one of the greatest ills plaguing our democracy is the neglect and abuse of children. Our Constitution entrenches children’s rights in our society, which include the right to safety and security, and parliament has given effect to such rights by enacting the Children’s Act,
Filicide, is the murder of a child by a parent. Filicide is a multifaceted phenomenon with various causes and characteristics. Filicide is a relatively rare event. In attempts to determine reasons for child murder by parents, several authors have proposed general classification systems that categorize cases based mostly on
When a person who is legally liable to pay maintenance towards a minor child has not been meeting his or her obligations, an application can be brought for the enforcement of arrear maintenance. A Maintenance Officer may make an order which compels the person liable to pay such maintenance
Divorce and separation can breed bad blood between parents and children when one partner uses the children to target the other partner. Parental alienation can be described as the efforts on the part of one parent to turn a child, or children, against the other parent. Parental Alienation Syndrome,
Contact between parent and child is an essential component of family life and is nearly always in the interests of the child. Contact between parent and child is to be terminated only in exceptional circumstances, where there are cogent reasons for doing so and when there is no alternative.
The recent case of a Danish father who was reunited with his five-year-old son after an 18-month international manhunt for the child and his mother is an enormous success for the offices of Benita Ardenbaum Attorney. This international case required expertise in Hague Convention matters relating to the abduction
