It is accepted that separation is a time of significant emotional upheaval for every member of a family. During separation and the divorce process feelings of loss and guilt combine with those of anger and revenge. You may experience extreme emotional and physical distress during the divorce process, which can manifest itself as insomnia, depression, weight loss and panic attacks. Much of this stress can be attributed to factors such as the need to reorganise daily tasks and parental responsibilities, the loss of significant relationships and possessions, and the need to establish a new identity as an individual. Likewise, divorce has a huge impact on the children of separating or divorcing parties, as they might have to change living conditions or schools and endure the acrimony of the separation or divorce, often being torn apart, both emotionally and psychologically, in an acrimonious war between their parents.

Legal procedures 

Both the High Court and the Regional Magistrate’s Court deal with divorce litigation and both have similar procedures which need to be followed prior to a matter going to trial. Divorce proceedings are commenced when one of the parties serves a summons and particulars of claim on the other party, setting out their claim, which can include, over and above a decree of divorce, things such as spousal maintenance, parental responsibilities and rights which include; child maintenance, care of and contact with minor children, the primary residence of children and division of assets. The party commencing proceedings is referred to as the plaintiff and the other party, the defendant.

After service of the summons on the defendant, the following procedures are followed:

a) The defendant must file a notice of intention to defend within 10 days;
b) The defendant must file his/her plea and counterclaim if any, 20 days thereafter;
c) The plaintiff must file his/her plea to the counterclaim within 15 days.

At this stage, the pleadings are considered closed, and the parties can begin the process of preparing for trial. This process can become extremely frustrating in circumstances where one of the parties refuses to cooperate, in which case there are remedies available to the other party, in the form of applications to the court. Both parties are required by the rules to make discovery (i.e. make available to the other side) all documents and tape recordings which are/were in his/her possession or control and which relate to any issue in question. Such documents would include schedules of assets and liabilities, bank statements, proof of the values of pension funds, investments and shares, etc. Depending on the complexity of your matter, the attitude adopted by your spouse, whether or not there are children involved, the issues in dispute and the like, this process can take anywhere from a few months, to several years.