The Divorce Act of South Africa is the piece of legislation that specifies the rights of people when they would like to legally end their marriage. The actual responsibilities of those parties when the divorce is complete can also be found in the Maintenance Act. When a relationship comes to an end it is never pleasant – there are many loose ends, and it can be hard to let go. The best procedure to follow is to each secure your own attorneys so that when you have to go to court you have sufficient legal advice to protect yourself and your children. There is no reason to make the end of your relationship excessively expensive, tedious or aggressive. It is easier if you proceed with caution, and respect.
If you are thinking of getting a divorce, then acquainting yourself with the Divorce Act of South Africa can help you better understand the procedure when you want to terminate a marriage. It can become so confusing when you are upset about the end of an era, that understanding your rights can go a long way to ensuring you don’t get exploited by your ex partner, or by your attorneys. Court can be a scary place for anyone who has never been there, but with sound legal advice and support you will be absolutely fine.
Legal advice is not cheap in SA so it’s a good idea to scan the lists of attorneys to find one that is within your price range and represents you in a fair and supportive manner. People need four things to feel empowered – respect, safety, choice and information. If you find that you are not receiving these from your legal support then it is time to make a change. Legislation can be extremely confusing if you are not a lawyer and trying to give yourself legal advice is rarely successful. The bottom line is that you need to understand your rights and the procedures that will follow before you enter courts.