What divorce law covers
Divorce law covers the legal end of a marriage, including the divorce order, settlement terms, parenting arrangements, maintenance, and property issues.
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Practice areaDivorce Law
Divorce Law
Understand divorce, maintenance, parenting plans, settlement agreements, and find divorce lawyers who can help.
7Problem pathways
61Glossary terms
1Resources
485Lawyers
30Firms
Problem pathways
Start with what needs attention
Family matter
I want to get divorced
Understand the divorce process, likely documents, court steps, and when legal help may be useful.
Terms, resources, lawyersFamily matterChild maintenance
Start with support duties, maintenance orders, payment issues, and practical preparation steps.
Terms, resources, lawyersFamily matterParenting plan
Understand parenting arrangements, care and contact, and child-focused divorce planning.
Terms, resources, lawyersFamily matterDivision of assets
Explore settlement, property, pension, and financial issues that may need agreement or court input.
Terms, resources, lawyersFamily matterDomestic abuse concerns
Find safer next steps, family-law pathways, and lawyer discovery for urgent concerns.
Terms, resources, lawyersFamily matterSettlement agreement
Understand settlement terms, maintenance, parenting, property, and review points.
Terms, resources, lawyersFamily matterUnopposed divorce
Learn how an agreed divorce may work and what still needs to be recorded properly.
Terms, resources, lawyersOverview
Divorce law overview
Common issues
Common issues include child maintenance, parenting plans, division of assets, pension interests, settlement agreements, and documents needed for court.
Contested or unopposed
An unopposed divorce usually involves agreement on key terms. A contested divorce usually means important issues still need to be resolved.
When legal help is useful
Legal help is useful where there are children, property, debts, pension interests, abuse concerns, uncertainty, or disagreement about settlement terms.
Next step
Need help with a divorce or family matter?
Services
Common services
Divorce Consultation
Initial guidance on process, documents, children, assets, maintenance, and next steps.
Unopposed Divorce
Support where spouses agree on divorce terms and need the process prepared correctly.
Contested Divorce
Help where there are disputes about children, assets, maintenance, or settlement terms.
Settlement Agreement
Review and preparation of divorce settlement terms before they are made part of the order.
Parenting Plan
Parenting arrangements, care and contact, and child-focused planning.
Maintenance Dispute
Child maintenance, maintenance orders, arrears, and enforcement pathways.
Glossary
Popular divorce law terms
Family Law TermsTerm
Family LawDecree Of Divorce
Court order formally ending a marriage.
Explore termFamily Law TermsTerm
Family LawMaintenance Order
Court order requiring payment of maintenance.
Explore termFamily Law TermsTerm
Family LawParenting Plan
Agreement or plan for parenting arrangements.
Explore termFamily Law TermsTerm
Family LawDivorce Settlement Agreement
Agreement recording divorce settlement terms.
Explore termFamily Law TermsTerm
Family LawContested Divorce
Divorce where spouses do not agree on one or more issues.
Explore termFamily Law TermsTerm
Family LawUncontested Divorce
Divorce where spouses agree on the main terms.
Explore termFamily Law TermsTerm
Family LawChild Maintenance
Financial support for a child.
Explore termFamily Law TermsTerm
Family LawFamily Advocate
Official who assists courts in matters involving children and family disputes.
Explore termResources
Divorce law resources
ChecklistDivorce Checklist
Preparation checklist for divorce process, settlement, parenting, and maintenance issues.
Family LawRelated guide
Maintenance Documents Checklist
Checklist for income, expenses, child-related costs, orders, and payment records.
Preparation pathRelated guide
Parenting Plan Guide
Guide to care, contact, decision-making, routines, holidays, and practical child arrangements.
Preparation pathRelated guide
Settlement Agreement Guide
Guide to property, maintenance, children, pensions, debts, and review points before signing.
Preparation pathFAQs
Divorce law FAQs
How long does divorce take in South Africa?
Timing depends on whether the divorce is agreed or contested, court availability, documents, children, assets, and settlement issues. Speak to a qualified legal professional for advice on your matter.
What is an unopposed divorce?
An unopposed divorce usually means both spouses agree on the divorce and the main terms, including children, maintenance, and assets where relevant. A qualified legal professional can confirm what is needed.
Do I need a lawyer for divorce?
Some people manage simple agreed divorces themselves, but legal help is useful where children, assets, maintenance, abuse concerns, pension interests, or disagreement are involved.
What happens if we cannot agree on children or assets?
The matter may become contested and may need negotiation, mediation, court steps, or specific professional input before it can be finalised.
What documents are usually needed?
Common documents include identity documents, marriage certificate, settlement terms, income and expense details, child-related information, and documents about property or debts.
Lawyer discovery
Divorce and family lawyers
Anzel Lombard
UnverifiedSouth Africa
Commercial LawConveyancingDebt Collection
Bartho van Tonder
UnverifiedCape Town
ConveyancingLitigationCommercial Law
Cynthia du Plessis
UnverifiedRustenburg
Commercial LawConveyancingCriminal Law
Lara Rademeyer
UnverifiedPretoria
Commercial LawConveyancingDispute Resolution
Firm discovery
Divorce and family law firms
JJR & Associates Incorporated
UnverifiedPretoria
22 lawyersFamily Law
Van Heerdens Attorneys
UnverifiedPort Elizabeth
9 lawyersFamily Law
DTS Attorneys
UnverifiedCape Town
7 lawyersCommercial LawFamily LawNotarial Services
Hannes Pretorius Bock & Bryant Attorneys
UnverifiedSouth Africa
6 lawyersConveyancingCriminal LawFamily Law
Locations
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Related areas
Related practice areas
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