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The Family Advocate


The family advocate assists parents in divorce proceedings to reach an agreement on disputed issues, namely care, contact and guardianship. If the parents are unable to reach an agreement, the family advocate evaluates their circumstances in light of the best interests of the child and makes a recommendation to the court regarding care, contact and guardianship.

The family advocate cannot be subpoenaed to court as a witness to give evidence on behalf of a parent, even if his/her recommendation was in favour of that parent. The recommendation is intended to help the court in deciding a matter and arriving at a particular order. The recommendation itself is not enforceable unless integrated in a court order.

In addition, as an impartial institution, the family advocate cannot act as a legal representative for either parent. Their services are rendered free of charge; however, parents may be required to obtain forensic evaluation or testing at their own expense.

Purpose

The purpose of the family advocate is to promote and protect the best interests of minor or dependent children in parental responsibilities and rights disputes. The professional component of the Office of the Family Advocate comprises lawyers (family advocates) and social workers (family counsellors), who operate in multi-disciplinary teams to ensure a holistic and qualitative approach to the best interests of the child throughout the dispute resolution or the court adjudication process.
 
Powers

The powers and duties of the family advocate according to the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act, 1987 (Act 24 of 1987) are:

  • to institute an enquiry so as to be able to furnish the court with a report and recommendation on any matter concerning the welfare of the minor child;
  • to appear at the trial or hearing of any relevant application;
  • to adduce any available evidence; and
  • to cross-examine witnesses giving evidence at the trial or hearing of an application.
 
These powers and duties have been extended by the Children’s Act, which makes it compulsory for parents to attend mediation by a family advocate in parental rights and responsibilities disputes over children born out of wedlock.
 
Nature of work

Parents visit the family advocate when they have a divorce pending in court, and have minor or dependent children whose subsequent care, contact, guardianship or visitation arrangements are in dispute. Any parenting plan or divorce settlement agreement that contains parental rights and responsibilities must also be endorsed by the family advocate’s office prior to a divorce being granted.
A family advocate may also be consulted when:

  • drafting parenting plans or parental responsibilities and rights agreements;
  • applying for the registration of a parenting plan or parental responsibilities and rights agreement;
  • making a parenting plan or parental responsibilities and rights agreement an order of the court;
  • amending and/or terminating a plan or agreement already registered;
  • varying care, contact, guardianship or visitation arrangements;
  • applying for definitions of care, contact and guardianship;
  • dealing with disputes arising from the exercising of parental responsibilities and rights;
  • dealing with care, contact or guardianship disputes arising from the termination of a customary or religious marriage;
  • dealing with domestic violence and maintenance cases that have been referred to a family advocate;
  • dealing with parental child abduction to and from South Africa;
  • an unmarried father applies for care and contact or guardianship; and
  • addressing any other matter involving minor or dependent children where the court has specifically ordered the family advocate to intervene.
 
The Office of the Family Advocate gives the child an opportunity to be heard with regard to his/her position in the pending divorce. The atmosphere at the Office of the Family Advocate is therefore less rigid and solemn and more child-friendly compared to that of a courtroom. The family advocate uses techniques of alternate dispute resolution and may work in liaison with other professionals (such as social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists) in assisting the family and ascertaining what is in the best interests of the child.

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Contact Details

BERTUS PRELLER
​MAURICE PHILLIPS WISENBERG

20th Floor, 2 Long  Street, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Telephone: +27 21 419 7115


​
Email: familylaw@mpw.co.za
Facebook: divorceattorneys
Twitter: @bertuspreller

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Legal Notices
  • Home
  • Divorce
    • The Divorce Process in South Africa
    • Rule 41A Mediation
    • The Marital Property Regimes >
      • Marriage in Community of Property
      • Marriage out of community without accrual
      • Marriage out of community with the inclusion of the accrual
      • Universal Partnerships
      • Register Antenuptial Contract Online
      • Changing your matrimonial regime.
    • Division of Assets at Divorce >
      • Forfeiture of Assets in a Divorce
    • Evicting your spouse divorce
    • Retirement Funds and Divorce
    • Living Annuities
    • Hiding Assets in a Divorce
    • Trusts and Divorce
    • Divorce a Missing Spouse
    • Adultery and Suing a Third Party
    • Domicile in Divorce Cases
    • International Divorces in South Africa
    • International Divorce Law >
      • UK Divorce Laws
    • Choosing a Divorce Attorney
    • On-line Divorce
    • Lawyer Fees and Costs
    • Important Aspects of a Divorce
    • Dealing with Emotions During Divorce and Separation
    • Divorce Statistics
    • Divorce Therapy and Counselling >
      • Marriage and Relationship Therapists
    • Rebuilding Your Financial Life
    • Divorce Attorney Cape Town
    • Divorce Polls
    • Ingredients of a successful relationship
    • Uncontested Divorce
    • Uncontested Divorce - What Happens on the Court Day?
  • Maintenance
    • Maintenance Child COVID19
    • Spousal maintenance
    • How to calculate Child Maintenance?
    • Maintenance Defaulters
    • What Happens if you don't pay child maintenance
    • Child Maintenance Frequently Asked Questions
    • Rule 43 Interim Maintenance Pending Divorce >
      • Can I appeal a Rule 43 Order
      • Apply for Costs in Rule 43
      • Financial Disclosure Rule 43
      • Rule 43 Maintenance
    • The Maintenance Manual
    • Grand Parents and Maintenance
  • Children
    • Custody and Coronavirus
    • Relocation and Child Abduction >
      • International Child Custody Law South Africa
      • Tips on international child custody
    • Unmarried Parents and the Law
    • Parenting Plans >
      • Conflict and dispute-resolution mechanisms
    • The non-custodian parent and contact
    • Appointing a Guardian in a Will
    • Introducing a new partner to your child
    • Refusal of Contact
    • Suspending Parental Rights
    • Parental Alienation
    • Facilitation
    • Living Arrangements
    • Joint decisions about your child
    • Paternity Disputes
    • The Family Advocate
    • Parenting during separartion
    • Children's Act 38 of 2005
  • Abuse
    • Gender Based Violence in South Africa
    • Domestic Abuse Forms
    • Evicting Wife
    • Domestic Violence Corona Virus
    • Divorcing an Abusive Spouse
    • What is Coercive Control?
    • What is Emotional Abuse
    • What is Sexual Abuse
    • What is Financial Abuse
    • What is Stalking
    • What is Verbal Abuse
    • What is Spiritual Abuse
    • What is Social Abuse
    • Revenge Porn
    • Steps to obtain a Protection Order
    • Domestic Violence eBook
    • The Protection Order
    • Who Qualifies for a Protection Order
    • Breaching a Protection Order
    • Questions on Domestic Abuse
    • Signs of an Abusive Relationship
    • Domestic Violence Information
    • Harassment
  • Cohabitation
    • Maintenance and Cohabitation
    • Sample Cohabitation Agreement
    • Engagement and the law
    • Formalities for marriage in south africa
  • Same Sex
  • Family Law eBooks
  • Family Law Links
    • The South African Court System
    • Court Rolls
    • Family Law Legislation
    • Family Law Blog
    • Family Law Newsletter March 2017
    • September 2016 Family Law Newsletter
    • Family Law Newsletter 2017 1
    • New Family Law Cases
    • Family Law Matters
    • Register for the Online Family Law Course
    • Online Family Law Education
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Charities