Changing your Matrimonial Regime from In Community of Property to Out of Community of Property in South Africa

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The Matrimonial Property Act provides that a husband and wife may apply jointly to the High Court for leave to amend their matrimonial property regime if the following requirements are met:

• There must be sound reasons for the proposed change.
• Notice of the intention to change must be given to the Registrar of Deeds, must be published in the Government Gazette and two local newspapers at least two weeks prior to the date on which the application will be heard, and must be given by certified post to all known creditors.
• The draft notarial contract, which the parties propose to register, must also be annexed to their application.
• No other person will be prejudiced by the proposed change.
• The rights of creditors must be preserved in the proposed contract. 
• The application must contain sufficient information about the parties’ assets and liabilities to enable the court to ascertain whether or not there are sound reasons for the proposed change and whether or not any particular person will be prejudiced by the change.

When the court is satisfied that the requirements have been met, it will order that the existing matrimonial property regime no longer applies to the marriage and authorise the couple to enter into an ANC by which their future matrimonial property regime will be regulated.

Note that such an application is expensive. Section 21(1) of the Matrimonial Property Act 88 of 1984 provides that spouses may apply jointly to court for consent to vary the matrimonial property system which applies to their marriage.

Requirements

The decision of Lourens et Uxor 1986 (2) SA 291 (C) confirm the guiding principles that the court follow with regard to applications in terms of section 21(1) of the Matrimonial Property Act No. 88 of 1984.

In order for the parties to change their matrimonial property system, the act mentions the following requirements: The case lays out the following guidelines:

1. Notice of the applications must be given to the Registrar of Deeds in terms of s 97 (1) of the Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937.
2. The draft notarial contract which it is proposed to register must be annexed to the application.
3. Notice of intention to make the application must also be published in the Government Gazette and one English and one Afrikaans newspaper at least two weeks before the date on which the application will be heard.
4. The date upon which the application will be heard must be specified in the published notice, setting out what steps an objector to the order sought must take and where the application and draft contract can be inspected.
5. In addition, at least two weeks' prior notice of the application must be given by certified post to all creditors, whether actual or contingent. A list of such creditors, verified by affidavit, shall be included in the application and proof that such notice has been given to them must be provided by an affidavit to which are annexed the relevant certificates of posting.
6. Sufficient information regarding the assets and liabilities of the couple concerned must be set out in the application to enable the Court to judge whether or not there are sound reasons for the proposed change and whether or not any other person will be prejudiced by the proposed change.
7. It should also be stated whether or not either of the applicants has been sequestrated in the past and, if so, when, and in what circumstances. The case number of any rehabilitation application must be furnished.
8. It should also be stated whether or not there are any pending legal proceedings in which any creditor is seeking to recover payment of any alleged debt due by the couple or either of them.
9. Care must be taken to motivate fully the proposed change in the existing matrimonial property system. Applicants must explain why no other person will be prejudiced by the proposed change. In any event, the order sought, and the contract which it is proposed to register, shall contain a provision which preserves the rights of pre-existing creditors.
10. The application must disclose where the parties are domiciled and, if they are not resident there when the application is made, where they are resident. If there has been a recent change in domicile or residence it should be disclosed so that the

The court where the application is brought (the High Court) must be satisfied that no other person will be prejudiced by the future change. The court must be satisfied that the rights of creditors of the parties must be preserved in the planned contract so the application must contain adequate information about the parties’ assets and liabilities to allow the court to determine whether or not there are good reasons for the intended change and whether or not any other person will be prejudiced by such amendment.

If the court is content that the requirements have been met, it can order that the existing matrimonial property system may no longer apply to the marriage and approve that the parties may enter into a Notarial contract by which their future matrimonial property regime will be regulated.

The application must also reveal where the parties are domiciled and, if they are not resident there when the application is made, where they are resident. If there has been a recent change in domicile or residence it should be disclosed so that the Court can consider whether the application has been brought in the appropriate forum and/or whether or not additional notice of the application should be given.

Change your matrimonial regime

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