Enforcing a foreign divorce order against assets in South Africa With increasing global travel and work opportunities, many couples find themselves in cross-border marriages. Unfortunately, if the marriage breaks down, this can also mean a divorce in a foreign jurisdiction. The divorce proceedings may be finalised abroad – in the United Kingdom, Europe or elsewhere […]
By Simon Dippenaar — Cape Town family lawyer | International divorce, cross-border custody & relocation. Summary When Answers Matter More Than Sleep It’s late. You’re scrolling for the truth about international divorce, custody, and what happens if someone leaves the country… with your child. Here are the five questions I’m asked most—and the answers you […]
Which piper do you pay if you divorce a spouse overseas? Setting aside the emotional upheaval, divorce is a complicated financial transaction. If one spouse lives overseas or the couple owns assets in more than one country, there are additional levels of complexity, especially when it comes to tax. One of the main financial risks […]
Imagine a seven-year-old child caught between two countries – one parent in South Africa, the other overseas – waiting anxiously as courts in different jurisdictions decide their fate. Months pass with no clear answers. The child’s life is on hold, and both parents are in limbo. This heart-rending scenario is not just theoretical; it reflects […]
By Simon Dippenaar — Cape Town family lawyer | Cross-border care, contact & relocation Summary Two Courts, One Child Your child is everything. But what happens when two courts—one here, one abroad—both claim the right to decide where they live and who gets to be present in their life?Who has the final say? We unpack […]
When parents divorce, it’s quite common for one parent to relocate. There are many reasons for this: making a fresh start in a new city or town if the divorce has been painful or traumatic; moving closer to one’s extended family; taking up a new job offer, to better afford the cost of being single. […]
The importance of cultural sensitivity Child care and contact is always a delicate matter in any divorce case, involving bargaining, compromise, high emotional investment and, sometimes, considerable conflict. If one parent decides to relocate to another country after divorce, the negotiations can be even more fraught and complex. Sometimes international relocation will be in pursuit […]
What do divorced parents need to know about travelling with their children? Children of divorced parents often say one of the unintended benefits of the divorce is twice the holidays. Although agreeing on holiday contact can be contentious for parents, divorce can mean the child spends almost the entire school holiday period on vacation. But […]
What to do if you and your soon-to-be-ex are different nationalities Is your spouse a foreign national? Or are you a South African married abroad? Divorce is a challenging process, and it becomes even more complicated when it involves more than one country. Whether you’re a South African married to a foreign spouse or a […]
Introduction – Why Relocation Cases Are So Complex Relocating with children after divorce is one of the most sensitive and complex issues in family law. Whether you are moving within South Africa or abroad, the law requires that every decision be made in the best interests of the child. At SD Law, we’ve guided parents […]
How can South Africa speed up return of children? The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is intended to deter child abductions across international borders by parents or guardians. It sets out a framework for the prompt return of children to their country of residence, ensuring custody disputes are resolved by […]
International lessons for South Africa We live in a globally connected world. As we travel more, marriage across cultures and national borders becomes more common. But these marriages are no more immune from divorce than any other union. Sometimes cultural differences only emerge when children come on the scene, and child-rearing customs conflict. When a […]
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