Areas of Law
Find Out More About What We Do
Family Law
Our work in family law aims to help people resolve family disputes and achieve safe, workable and child-focused parenting and care arrangements. This field of law is considered quite fragile and sensitive, as it involves personal relationships between couples, family members and most importantly children. We approach these matters with due care and diligence and offer legal advice and representation in the following types of matters:
- Divorce
- Divorce Mediation
- Maintenance matters
- Drafting of marriage contracts
- Settlement Agreements
- Parenting plans
- Domestic Violence and Interdicts for Harrassment
Divorce Mediation:
Mediation is the process whereby a neutral third party adjudicates a dispute between two or more persons. This is a far less formal and more relaxed process as opposed to the traditional adversarial litigation that takes place in court.
Issues that can be mediated, include contact (access) arrangements, care (custody), maintenance and the division of the joint estate or marital home. Successful mediation should result in a settlement agreement that could be made an order of court. Mediation is therefore a cost effective and expedient way to finalise a divorce. However, any settlement agreement that has been reached by the parties must be made an order of court.
Civil Litigation
Every day, countless civil lawsuits are filed, and many people find themselves having no knowledge of how to deal with these law suits, regardless of whether they are instituting the action or defending it.
The rules of procedure are concerned with the manner in which a matter may be brought to court. Two types of procedures exist and these are the Application and the Action procedure. It is vital to choose the correct form as it may determine the costs, implications and outcome of a case.
Our firm is always ready to deal with unexpected civil litigation and are well-known for aggressively representing and protecting our clients interests in court.
Amongst others, we deal with:
- Debt collection
- Personal injury
- Motor vehicle accident claims
- Breach of Contracts
- Claims for Damages
- Evictions
Debt Collection
Debt collection is the process of recovering payments due to a creditor or someone who is owed money.
Contracts and Commercial Law
We provide individuals and businesses with the necessary legal assistance in the following areas:
- Drafting of commercial contracts
- Partnership agreements
- Lease agreements
- Sale agreements
- Service agreements
- Surety agreements
- Employment contracts
- Estate Agent mandates
- Credit agreements
- Acknowledgements of debt
- Service level agreements
- Registration of Companies
Labour Law
The implementation of the Labour Relations Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act have played an integral role in the development of basic rights of employees, policies, rules and codes of conduct that employess are subject to in the workplace. We assist employers in drafting employment contracts and Codes of Conduct as well as ensuring that fair labour practices are followed, particularly with attending to staff and dismissal issues.
We represent employees in ensuring that they have proper representation if any of their rights in the workplace have been violated.
We also provide advice and assistance with:
- Drafting of employment contracts
- Codes of Conduct
- Conducting disciplinary hearings
- Unfair dismissals and unfair labour practices
Divorce
Divorce or the dissolution of marriage is the process of legally terminating a marriage or civil union.
Maintenance
This is the legal obligation of a person who is responsible in terms of the Maintenance Act to provide for the financial needs and upkeep of another person.
Criminal Law
We assist individuals who find themselves in crisis and ensure that they are subjected to fair treatment by the criminal justice system.
The right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence until proved guilty is enshrined in our Constitution.
We assist clients in exploring alternate dispute resolution mechanisms, where applicable.
We specialise in the following areas in representing accuseds in criminal matters:
- Bail applications
- Defending accuseds in trials
- Plea and Sentence agreements
- Appeals and Reviews
- Damages claims against the Minister of Police for wrongful arrests
Bail Application
The accused in a criminal matter is entitled to bail subject to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act. The purpose of bail is to secure the release of the accused, pending his trial and to ensure his attendance at the trial. Whether he is found guilty or not, he is entitled to the refund of his bail payment.
Conveyancing
The legal process known as conveyancing is the transfer of immovable property such as houses and apartments. It entails a number of different steps and procedures that are required for the registration of transfer of any type of property, including industrial, commercial and residential. We simplify the process for you so that you understand the process and always keep you updated on the progress of your transfer.
Our focus areas are:
- Property Transfers
- Bond Registrations
- Bond Cancellations
- Title Deed Searches
- Applying for copies of lost deeds
Drafting Of Wills And Administration Of Deceased Estates
We understand that death is inevitable and that the loss of a loved one can be traumatic. We assist with empathy and ensure that one’s lifetime earnings and assets reach the desired recipient. Hence, we guide our clients in the drafting of their Wills and estate planning .
We deal with both the administration of estates in terms of Intestate Succession Act (where a person has passed away without leaving a Will) as well as when the deceased has left a Will.
We offer the following services:
- Drafting of Wills and Codicils
- Testamentary Trusts
- Administration (winding-up) of Estates
- Redistribution Agreements
- Contesting of wills and other litigation that may be associated in this area of law
Notarial Deeds, Apostilles And Authentication Of Documents
Notarial services include drafting notarial deeds, attesting deeds, authenticating official documents and providing Apostille certificates for use in foreign countries.
The following are some examples of notarial deeds that we draft:
- Antenuptial (marriage) contracts
- Postnuptial contracts
- Servitudes
- Cessions of Exclusive Use Areas such as garages, parking bays, gardens, etc.
- Cession of usufruct
- Notarial leases
- Notarial Wills
- Trusts
- Notarial bonds
Correspondent Services
We accept instructions from other law firms to act as their correspondents in Amanzimtoti, Chatsworth, Durban, Nsimbini, Pinetown, Scottburgh, Umlazi, Umbumbulu, Umzinto and Wentworth courts, being all the courts which we normally attend.