Jessica Schwenn
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SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE: WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW

Should a spouse be entitled to payment of a monthly amount of maintenance for themselves when they get divorced?

The simple answer is “no”.  Our courts try to ensure what is known as a “clean break principle” on divorce, ensuring that as much as possible that each party goes their separate ways after a divorce. 

This started with courts refusing spousal maintenance orders in some of the following circumstances:

  1. Where the parties are young;
  2. Where the party is qualified in a field;
  3. Where the parties have no children;
  4. Where they have their own job;
  5. Where the party is in good health; and
  6. When the marriage was a short one.

In the past it was common that women would stay at home raising children and looking after the family home, however, this has become more rare.  In these kind of situations, the court favours the application of “rehabilitative maintenance.”  This upholds the clean break principle, giving the spouse maintenance for a fixed period of time until they are financially self-sufficient and upskilled to enable them to be gainfully employed.

In the cases where the courts grant maintenance orders, the court will have to take the following into account:

  1. The current or expected wealth of the party;
  2. The earning capacity of the party;
  3. The financial need or obligation;
  4. The ages of the parties;
  5. The duration of the marriage; and
  6. The standard of living before the divorce.

At Schwenn Incorporated we look at trying to get settlements during a divorce that are the most fair and favourable for our clients, as cost effectively as possible. If you have any questions on spousal maintenance or divorces in general do not hesitate to contact us today on 031 003 0630/ info@schwenninc.co.za.

Written by Jessica Schwenn and Charmaine Schwenn.

#schwenninc #newblog #spousalmaintenance #yougotschwenned #subscribe

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Jessica Schwenn

WHAT IS STATUS AND LEGAL CAPACITY?

These terms are often mentioned in laws, contracts and news articles.  What do they actual mean?

Status refers to your rights and responsibilities in civil and criminal law and whether you can sue or be sued.

This is further limited by your domicile (where you live and consider to be your home country), your age and your mental capacity.

Age and capacity go hand in hand, as described below :

  1. 0-7 Years old- Children between these ages have no capacity to act and need a parent or guardian to act on their behalf;
  2. 7-18 Years old- These ages have limited capacity to act. At this stage a minor (any person under the age of 18 years) can enter into contracts but need their parent or guardian to consent before it is legally binding; and
  3. 18 years and above- You are now considered a major and have unlimited capacity to act, unless you are mentally incapacitated.  In this case, the court would appoint a Curator to administer your affairs on your behalf in your best interests.

Here are some random and interesting other facts about the law and age:

  1. 0-10 Years – Children between these ages have no criminal liability;
  2. 10 Years old – 18 Years old- these minors need to consent to an adoption to be legal;
  3. 14 years and older- This person can be a witness to a will;
  4. 12 Years and above- a minor can make medical decisions for themselves without their parents/guardians consent if they understand the risks involved ;
  5. 12-15 Years old- A minor of this age can get married with consent of their parent/guardian and the Minister of Home Affairs, when they are married they still obtain the status of majority even after divorce; and
  6. 16 Years and above- A minor can now execute a will for themselves without assistance or consent of a parent or guardian.

The law therefore indicates that to enter into any legal contract or litigation in general one must know of their legal status in order to peruse same legally.

For any questions on your legal status contact our offices today on 031 003 0630 or email us at Charmaine@schwenninc.co.za.

#newblog #schwenninc #legalcapacityandstatus #attorneysatlaw #litigation #contracts

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Jessica Schwenn

The law of adoption in South Africa

Adoption can be described as the actual process where one or more people make an application to the  Children’s Court to become a parent of a child that can be either biologically related to the parent or not.

Who is adoptable according to the laws of South Africa?:

  1. Anyone under the age of 18 years old;
  2. Where one is an orphan and their caregiver is willing to adopt him/ her;
  3. Where a child is abandoned and has no contact with the parent for a period of at least 3 months; and
  4. Where a child has been abused and or neglected by his/her parent.

Who can apply to adopt a child?:

  1. The person must be at least 18 years or over;
  2. Spouses or life partners who share a permanent home;
  3. A widower or divorced person;
  4. A stepparent married to the parent of the child; and
  5. A father of a child born out of wedlock.

Who needs to give consent to allow a child to be adopted?:

  1. Each parent or legal guardian if they can be found;
  2. The child must consent where he/she is 10 years or older ( this consent must be reduced to writing and verified by the Children’s Court).

Can consent be withdrawn?:

Yes, a parent who gave the consent to an adoption has 60 days after consent was initially given to withdraw the consent.

Therefore the Children’s Court cannot grant an adoption until the 60 day period has expired.

When is it possible for consent not to be required?:

  1. When someone is mentally ill/ unstable;
  2. When a child is abandoned and the parent cannot be traced;
  3. Where a child has been abused by their parent/ guardian;
  4. Where a parent has failed to respond to a proposed adoption notice within 30 dyas of receipt;
  5. A father who has never acknowledged he was the father of the child;
  6. A child conceived from an incestuous relationship; and
  7. When a child was conceived by rape.

What is the actual procedure to adopt a child?:

  1. A notice must be served by a sheriff to the parents/guardians to request consent;
  2. An interview with a social worker regarding whether or not a child can be adopted eg. If its in the childs best interest;
  3. An application must be made to the Children’s Court with the recommendation of the social worker;
  4. A letter by the provincial head of social development recommending the adoption;
  5. If granted, the order together with the child’s birth certificate must be taken to the Home Affairs in which the child is domiciled and the change of surname will be recorded.  

For any family law matters don’t hesitate to contact our offices today on 031 003 0630 or email us at Charmaine@schwenninc.co.za.

Written by Jessica Schwenn.

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Jessica Schwenn

WHEN A WILL FIRM BE CONSIDERED TO BE DOMINANT FOR PURPOSES OF THE APPLICATION OF THE COMPETITION ACT?


This is a question that each director of either a small, medium or large firm must take into account when considering competition in the market. Negligence has left a lot of firms in a position that leads to them breaking down, but for a firm to successfully compete in a market one must take the following into account.

 ESTABLISHING DOMINANCE

A definition of a dominant firm appears in section 7 of the Competition Act. The inquiry into whether an entity is a dominant firm includes an identification of the relevant market in which the firm is involved, it’s market share within that market and whether it possesses the relevant market under section 7 depends upon the market share enjoyed by the firm alleged to be dominant.

WHEN IS A FIRM DOMINANT?

Section 7 of the Competition Act states that a firm is dominant in a market if:

  • It has at least 45% of that market
  • It has at least 35%but less than 45% of that market
  • If it has lee than 35% of that market but it has market power

The statutory test for dominance requires an assessment of market share and market power. A firm with a market share of 45% or more cannot escape being conspired dominant per se, however, for those firms with a market share of less than 45%, market share is only one aspect that needs to be considered.

If the firm has a market share of less than 45% but equal to or more than 35%, the onus is on the firm to show that it does not have market power.

If a firm cannot produce evidence to show that it does not enjoy market power, then the firm is dominant.

Likewise, a firm with less than 35% of a market share may be dominant if it has market power. However, in this case, the onus is the complainant in the case or where relevant, the Competition Commission, to show that the firm has market power.

TEST FOR DOMINANCE

A firm can only be determined once the market in which the firm competes is correctly defined. Accordingly, the definition of the relevant market is an important initial step in establishing whether a firm qualifies as dominant. It is quite possible for a big conglomerate firm that participates in various diverse industries not to be dominant in any relevant market.

So, the main question to ask is when does a firm have market power? The Competition Act defines market power as the ability to:

  • Control prices
  • Exclude competition
  • Behave to an appreciable extent independently of competitors, customers, and suppliers.

Market power provides the firm with the ability to set prices above the competitive price level, and in so doing earn a greater profit than it would have under competitive conditions in the market.  

WHAT DOES THE DOMINANCE PROVISION PROHIBIT?

In terms of section 8 of the Act, it is prohibited for a firm to:

1. Charge an excessive price to the detriment of consumers;

2. Refuse to give access to competitors access to an essential facility when it is economically feasible to do so;

3.Engage in an exclusionary act, other than that listed below if the anti-competitive effect outweighs its technological efficiency or whether pro-competitive gain;

4. Engage in any of the following exclusionary acts, unless the firm concerned can show technological efficiency or other pro-competitive gains which outweigh the anticompetitive effect of its act;

  • Requiring or inducing a supplier or customer not to deal with a competitor. This transpired in the case of Comair Ltd v SAA 2008 where SAA induced airline agents to not deal with Nationwide Airlines and Comair who were complainants in selling the tickets but only sell SAA tickets to customers in return for an incentive promised by SAA.
  • Refusing to supply scarce goods to a competitor when supplying those would be economically feasible.
  • Selling goods or services on conditions that the buyer purchases separate goods or services unrelated to the object of a contract or forcing a buyer to accept a condition unrelated to the object of a contract or forcing a buyer to accept a condition unrelated to the object of the contact.
  • Selling good and services below their marginal or average variable cost.
  • Buying up a scarce supply of intermediate goods or resources required by a competitor.

Before one engages in the market it is advisable to look out for such conduct, apply the Act where applicable.

We can help with this!  We have extensive experience with the Competition Commission, having appeared before the commission on behalf of clients and dealt with Competition matters, up to and including, challenging fines, opposing applications brought by the Competition Commission, representing clients before the Competition Tribunal, among others.

Contact: Charmaine Schwenn

                Charmaine@schwenninc.co.za

031 -0030360

WRITTEN BY: PORTIA SAMKELISIWE DLAMINI

13/05/2019

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Jessica Schwenn

THE CONVEYANCING PROCESS


STEP 1 – Sign an offer to purchase a house from the Seller using an Estate Agent (if applicable);

STEP 2 – Bond Application done for the Loan :
Bond application forms part of the “suspensive condition” (conditions that need to happen before the sale). Another common suspensive condition is the sale of an existing document;

STEP 3 – Estate Agent will send Agreement to us for registration of transfer.
The Sale Agreement is a binding contract that forms the basis of the transaction;

STEP 4 – We will contact the parties for FICA documents, deposit from Purchaser (if applicable), request Deed and Discharge from cancellation bank, search at Deeds Office for restrictive conditions, etc. If the Seller has a bond over the property, his/her bank will hold the title deed in safekeeping;

STEP 5 – Bond attorneys will be instructed once the bond is approved, they will send through their letter with all requirements, a mortgage bond is a special loan which uses the fixed property as a security registered in the Deeds Office;

STEP 6 – Cancellation attorneys will be instructed by the seller’s bond bank, the cancellation attorney will send through the Title Deed and guarantee requirements to us;

STEP 7 – We will apply for rates clearance certificate (takes up to 3 / 4 weeks). A property cannot be transferred if there are outstanding rates;

STEP 8 – Start preparing documents for signature – this takes about a day;

STEP 9 – Contact parties to sign transfer documents such as Power of Attorney, Affidavits, etc. Original FICA to be brought in for verification purposes;

STEP 10 – Proforma account to be paid by purchaser, SARS Transfer Duty application to be done (takes up to 10 days), pro-rata rates/levies homeowner’s fees, etc called for payment. Proforma account is an estimate as to the rates and/or levies will only be known once the figures are received, there could be many additional costs incurred depending on the transaction;

STEP 11 – Once all is in order with Homeowner’s, Rates, Levies, SARS, the matter can be prepped for lodgement;

STEP 12 – Send documents to Stowell & Company for lodgement, always ensure that simultaneous transaction is all done on the same day (bond/cancellation). The lodging attorney is located opposite the Deeds Office and acts on our behalf;

STEP 13 – Matters are lodged together (transfer, bond & cancellation), this takes up to 5-6 days in lodgement stage;

STEP 14 – Examiners at Deeds Office examine each document sent;

STEP 15 – Matter comes “up for prep” or “fees”, we will prep final account in file. This is good news, meaning all the documents were correct and will be registered the next day;

STEP 16 – Matter registered, Seller paid, Estate agent paid, etc. The purchaser becomes the new owner;

STEP 17 – Title Deed sent back to us, send a copy to the client, to send original to bond bank attorneys. The title deed can take up to 2 months to return from Deeds Office.

Are you looking to buy or sell your property?? Contact us today and we will help you!

#schwenninc #newblog #conveyancing #law #attorneys #theconveyancingprocess #callustoday #letushelpyou

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Jessica Schwenn

The duties of an Executor in a deceased Estate.

Nobody likes to think about the fact that they will one day die. It is a horrible visual but what about those who are left behind? This article will discuss the duties of the executor and how they help those through that process.


During your life you acquire assets for example houses, cars, shares, etc. and you also acquire liabilities such as loans, debts, etc. These assets and liabilities form part of your estate, and when you die this estate needs to be administered, divided and distributed. These processes are all done by one person in control of the estate known as the executor.


The executor’s first step would be to meet the family and gather as much information and missing documents that they don’t have and reconcile the deceased’s will in which the executor in Testate Succession will be nominated.


The second step is that the estate must be reported to the Master of the High Court’s office in which the deceased lived. http://www.justice.gov.za/master/contacts.htm.


The executor must then place a notice to the creditors informing them of the deceased’s death. This notice will be placed in the Government Gazette and the local newspaper in the area the deceased had lived. This gives creditors the opportunity to institute claims within 30 days after the notice was published.


The executor will then close all of the current bank accounts open at the time of the deceased’s death. He/she will then open up a separate account strictly used for the administration of the estate.


The drafting of accounts must be done and advertised in the same manner as the notice to creditors which is then lodged for approval at the Master of the High Court where the death was reported.


After the accounts have been approved by the master, the executor will pay all the creditors and distribute what’s left of the estate to the beneficiaries accordingly.


The Master of the High Court can help the family of the deceased on the process, however, it is usually advisable that a qualified attorney and/or deceased estate paralegal helps the family. One can approach Pro Bono.org where they will be helped for free.


It is not advisable that a family member is left as the executor of an estate of their loved one. This is burdensome especially if it is not your area of expertise. Contact us and we will help you today. Call us on 031 003 0630 or email us at Charmaine@schwenninc.co.za.

#schwenninc #attorneys #law #deceasedestates #dutiesoftheexecutor #newblog

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Jessica Schwenn

Are you thinking of buying an investment property to rent out? If so, here are some of the things to keep in mind:

1. It is important to think about the initial costs, do you have enough earnings to qualify for a bond on a property in the first place? Are you able to pay all the necessary transfer costs such as transfer duty, attorney/conveyancer fess?

2. Then consider ownership – firstly be how you intend to register the property, are you doing so in your name or in the name of a trust or company? Consult an attorney and accountant on this point.

3. What will the monthly costs be to you from date of registration? Think of costs such as levies, rates and taxes, and your bond instalment. Also factor in insurance and maintenance costs. You should have a contingency account for amounts not covered by your insurance for maintenance and upkeep of the property.

4. A big risk is periods when you have no tenants and are not earning an income, or if you have a tenant that is not paying rental, are you prepared to pay costs while looking for a suitable tenant or ejecting a non-paying tenant?

5. How much rent can you charge? Rental needs to be based on a) The type of property b) The location e.g. is it close to shopping centres? How many people will be living on the property? You will also need to plan ahead for the annual increase of rental which usually ranges between a 5-10% increase per year. This amount needs to be carefully considered and calculated so that it strikes an important balance between profit for you as a land owner as well as fairness and affordability for tenants.

6. You will need a strong rental agreement that protects your rights as a land owner, this should include breach clauses which will give you remedies in the event that the tenant breaches his responsibilities, this should also include the fact that they agree to pay legal costs in the event that a matter ends up in the legal process.

7. Tenant vetting- what you look for in a tenant : • Reliability – this would be especially useful when it comes to payments being made every month, • Conduct and demeanour – this would be one of the top priorities, not only does the tenant’s conduct depict how they will act toward you but it is important to see how they handle stressful and or difficult conversations especially when things go wrong and there is a breakdown in communication. • Responsibility – as a property owner, you want a tenant who will look after your property the best that they can as if it was their own, who will maintain it and keep it neat and tidy • Reference checks are essential, especially from previous landlords.

When seeking a tenant the most important thing is for you as an owner to feel comfortable!

If you have any queries and or advice on buying a rental property and renting out your property don’t hesitate to contact us today on 031 003 0630 or email us on Charmaine@schwenninc.co.za.

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http://www.probono.org.za/.

This article aims to discuss the necessity of open communication between yourself and your attorney especially when seeking and setting up a payment holiday plan.

Many people will at some point in their lives find themselves being involved in legal disputes. It goes without saying that litigating on a matter can take quite a while, especially if the matter is opposed.

In saying that, an attorney can become costly. The more time an attorney spends on your matter, the higher your legal bill.

Your financial situation can be either a short term or a long term problem. If it is a short term problem the restructuring of payments owing is much easier to do as opposed to a long term problem. It is however, important for you to maintain an open line of communication between yourself and your attorney. An attorney will only then institute legal action against you if you have not honored your commitments and/or if you haven’t advised them fully about your financial circumstances.

Your attorney may ask that you sign a contract for a certain period that limits your liability to pay them, this is known as a payment holiday. This is not to say that you are fully extinguished from ever paying your attorney again, but it is a contract that will stipulate the terms and conditions that will determine:

  1. When the amounts are due;
  2. What amounts are outstanding;
  3. If there is any discount available e.g. the use of a collections tariff as opposed to an attorney’s full hourly rate; and
  4. What interest, if any, will the debtor be liable for?

It is pertinent to note that a payment holiday plan will be based on the merits of a case, usually only used for a long term client and after a full financial assessment has been undertaken.

Be careful not to get a payment holiday plan confused with Pro Bono work. Most pro-bono work is work referred to attorneys by Pro Bono.Org in order to provide free legal assistance to those who cannot afford to pay for an attorney.  http://www.probono.org.za/.

In conclusion, to set up a payment holiday plan with your attorney you must apply your mind to the following:

  1. Be an existing client;
  2. You must notify your attorney immediately of any financial change;
  3. Share your financial history with your attorney;
  4. Negotiate a contract and decide which terms and conditions suit both parties;
  5. Honor your payments ( when the “holiday” is over); and
  6. Always keep the lines of communication with your attorney open.

For any legal assistance or advice kindly contact us on 031 003 0630 or email us on Charmaine@schwenninc.co.za.

Written by Jessica Schwenn.

#schwenninc #yougotschwenned #blogs #paymentholiday

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Jessica Schwenn
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Securing your rental deposit

  Residential properties : Securing your security deposit Section 5 of the Rental Housing Act (RHA) allows a landlord to take a deposit from a tenant before the tenant moves into the property. This amount must be stipulated in the lease agreement and is generally an amount that is equal to 1 month rental. The […]

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