Supporting Elderly Parents: The Legal Duty of Adult Children
We often focus our compassion on vulnerable children and their needs, but what about the elderly? In South Africa, too many parents spend their final years in destitution while their adult children live in comfort. This raises a difficult but important question: can parents claim maintenance from their children? The Law: A Reciprocal Duty of […]
Recognising Intimate Relationships: Civil Union Act and the Marriage Act
Within the South African context, our legal framework for recognising intimate relationships is unique. Our legislative framework offers various legislative pathways for couples to formalise their unions. The two most prominent Acts are the Marriage Act, 1961 (Act 25 of 1961) and the Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act 17 of 2006). Both Acts, while governing […]
A Closer Look at Maintenance Court Procedures in South Africa
Divorce and maintenance claims are often emotionally charged and legally complex processes. In South Africa, the maintenance court, established under the Maintenance Act 99 of 1998, plays an important role in ensuring that dependents, particularly children, are financially supported after a divorce or separation. The maintenance court is a specialised court established under Section 3 […]