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TECHNOLOGY ABUSE

The words “domestic violence” tend to conjure images of physical violence and abuse. In our highly connected world, abusers also can use technology against victims to monitor, threaten, harass, and hurt them. They may install spyware on victims’ phones and impersonate them on social media to humiliate them. Technology

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CAN GRANDPARENTS BE SUED FOR CHILD MAINTENANCE?

When a parent passes away, this primary responsibility to maintain the child will not end or be extinguished but will rather lie against the estate of the deceased parent.  Where a deceased parent’s estate is inadequate to cover the child’s support, or if there is no estate leftover to

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AMICABLE END TO YOUR MARRIAGE OR LENGTHY LEGAL BATTLE

Nearly half of all marriages in South Africa end in divorce. Divorce need not be bitter or erupt into a war. Unfortunately, though, in many divorces, spouses turn what could be an amicable end to their marriage into an emotionally difficult and expensive legal battle by allowing their anger,

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ESTATE PLANNING FOR SINGLE OR DIVORCED PARENTS

No parent wants to think about what will happen to their kids should they die prematurely… But if you’re a single or divorced parent, this life circumstance can have more complications than you planned for. South Africa counts among countries with the highest numbers of children who are being

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FORMALITIES FOR A MARRIAGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

Marriage is defined as a formal union and social and legal contract between two individuals that unites their lives legally, economically, and emotionally. Civil marriages, same-sex marriages, customary marriages and religious marriages are protected by the law. South Africa does not recognise a common law wife or husband. The

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TELLING YOUR CHILDREN THAT YOU’RE GETTING DIVORCED

One of the most difficult, painful conversations you will ever face is talking to your kids about your plan to divorce. When you know that you will be separating or divorcing, it is important to talk to your kids before they hear it from someone else. Imagine how upsetting

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INTERNATIONAL PARENTAL CHILD ABDUCTION

The notion of parental child abduction may seem foreign to many parents, however, in reality many children are abducted by a parent or caregiver. Parental child abduction is defined as the “taking, retention, or concealment of a child or children by a parent, other family member, or their agent,

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TERMINATING PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

When a person has a child, the law dictates that they have to take care of, and are responsible for the child. The Children’s Act, 38 of 2005 speaks about “parental responsibilities and rights”, of which there are many. The Children’s Act explains these parental responsibilities and rights.  To

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DIVISION OF A JOINT ESTATE IN A DIVORCE

The common misconception made by parties in a divorce action based on a marriage in community of property is that the Court will decide on how the division of the property will take place, i.e. which party will remain owner of the immovable property or in most cases the

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MEDIATION AND DEALING WITH HIGH CONFLICT PEOPLE

Mediation involves a thorough discussion of what each side’s point of view is and what has happened in the past. High-conflict people, because of their self-sabotaging personalities, often make their own problems worse by blaming others, taking an all-or-nothing approach, having unmanaged emotions and resorting to extreme behaviours, which

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