Advice

New Year. New Priorities. Stronger Legal Foundations. The start of a new year brings reflection, intention and the opportunity to reset priorities. Many individuals and businesses focus on health, finances and growth, yet legal wellbeing often remains overlooked until a...

Navigating Holiday Access and Parenting Time: What South African Law Says School holidays. Festive seasons. Mid-year breaks. The festive period brings joy, celebration, travel and much-needed rest for many families across South Africa. Parents plan trips, children look forward to...

Domestic Abuse Against Men: The Hidden Reality South Africa Cannot Ignore Why male victims stay silent — and why the law still protects them Domestic abuse in South Africa is often discussed through a single lens. Statistics consistently show that...

Signs You Are in a Legally Recognised Abusive Relationship. Even If There Are No Bruises Some abuse is visible. Most is not. Many South Africans first sense that something is wrong long before a bruise appears. A quiet heaviness settles...

What Shapiro & Haasbroek Inc. Offers Clients in Gauteng, Pretoria and Beyond Legal problems don’t check your calendar before they arrive. They interrupt already full days and bring stress that lingers even after you close the office door or put...

Commercial Evictions in Gauteng: A Real Look at What Actually Happens Commercial evictions have a way of testing everyone’s patience. Tenants feel stressed. Landlords feel stuck. Both sides feel like they’re the only ones trying to keep things together. I’ll...

When Home Stops Feeling Like Home: What You Need to Know About Evictions in South Africa It’s difficult to explain the fear of losing your home or the uncertainty of wondering whether you’ll ever get it back. For tenants, it...

When Does a Partner Become a ‘Life Partner’ in the Eyes of the Law in South Africa? In South Africa, more couples are choosing to live together rather than get married — but many don’t realise that “common-law marriage” does...

Top 10 Questions About Maintenance in South Africa — Answered Reflecting on the Questions That Matter Most After months of guiding families through separation, co-parenting, and financial restructuring, one topic keeps surfacing — maintenance. It’s the question that comes up...

It starts innocently — a phone notification, a group chat, a post. But for many children in South Africa, those digital spaces have become grounds for bullying, intimidation, and emotional harm. Cyberbullying has evolved from playground gossip into public humiliation...

When Divorce Goes Digital A decade ago, dividing assets in divorce meant splitting houses, cars, and retirement funds. Today, things look different. Couples are no longer only arguing over who gets the family home — they’re debating who keeps the...

The family home is often more than just bricks and mortar — it’s the space filled with memories, laughter, Sunday lunches, and the story of your family. But what happens when the person who owns that home passes away without...

When a child is born outside of marriage, one of the first questions many fathers ask is: “Do I have rights as a dad?” In South Africa, the answer is: Yes — but it depends on the circumstances, and the...

A wedding ring carries immense symbolism. For many, it represents love, unity, and the promises exchanged on a wedding day. But when a marriage ends in divorce, one of the most surprising and emotional questions is: “Who gets to keep...

For many families in South Africa, pets are more than just animals — they are companions, protectors, and part of the household. In fact, an estimated 65% of South African households own at least one pet (Stats SA). So, what...

When it comes to legal transactions, precision and authenticity are everything. In South Africa, notary services play a critical role in ensuring that important agreements, contracts, and documents are valid, enforceable, and recognised both locally and internationally. Yet many people...

Divorce and separation are often painful processes. But when children are caught in the middle of conflict between parents, the emotional cost can be devastating. One of the most damaging behaviours that can emerge is parental alienation — when one...

A Protection Order is one of the most powerful legal tools available in South Africa to protect individuals against domestic violence, harassment, intimidation, and abuse. But what happens when a Protection Order is breached? What are the consequences, and how...

When you are faced with abuse, fear, or intimidation in your own home or relationship, the law is there to protect you. One of the most powerful tools available in South Africa is a protection order. This legal document can...

When parents separate or divorce, one of the most sensitive and emotional issues to resolve is the care and contact of their children. In South Africa, the Family Advocate plays a critical role in protecting children’s best interests and helping...

Understanding the Legal Framework In South Africa, issues related to children are governed by the Children’s Act 38 of 2005, which places the best interests of the child above all else. Whether a couple is married, unmarried, or in a...

Divorce is a legal process that comes with significant financial, parental, and lifestyle implications — especially for women. One of the most common and important questions raised during this process is: What is a wife entitled to in a divorce...

When it comes to maintenance disputes — whether you’re claiming for yourself or your child — one of the most overlooked but critical elements is proof. And that proof often lies in something simple: your slips, receipts, and records. According...

Understanding Surrogacy in South Africa In South Africa, surrogacy represents both a deeply personal path to parenthood and a legally intricate process. It is not simply a matter of agreement between two parties or a medical procedure — it is...

When a child is taken across an international border without the permission of one of their legal guardians, it becomes far more than a family matter. It’s a crisis — and a criminal one. The emotional impact is often immediate....

Marriage is a deeply personal commitment — but also a legal and financial one. In South Africa, many couples enter into marriage without understanding the default marital regime and the legal and financial consequences that follow. Recent data from Statistics...

Whether you’re buying property, entering a business partnership, or finalising a divorce settlement — one thing’s for sure: contracts are not just paperwork. They are risk documents. And what you don’t understand can cost you dearly. At Shapiro & Haasbroek...

Parenting is a journey filled with love, challenges, and a thousand little decisions that shape a child’s life. But when you’re an unmarried parent, there’s often a bit of added uncertainty — especially around legal rights and responsibilities. In South...

Divorce is a profound life transition, often accompanied by emotional upheaval and financial uncertainty. In South Africa, where the divorce rate increased by 10.9% in 2022, many individuals find themselves navigating the complexities of post-divorce financial arrangements. Ensuring fair maintenance—both...

Starting and running a business in South Africa is a dream for many — but it’s not without risks. While entrepreneurs often focus on growth, branding, and operations, it’s the legal groundwork that often determines whether a business will thrive...

Buying or selling property is one of the most significant financial decisions most people will make—whether it’s securing a family home, investing in a development, or purchasing a commercial space to grow a business. In South Africa, the property landscape...

Every child deserves a safe and nurturing environment, yet for many, this is not a reality. In South Africa, child neglect, abuse, and abandonment remain pressing concerns. According to the South African Child Gauge Report, thousands of children experience neglect...

Domestic violence is a silent epidemic in South Africa, affecting millions of women, men, and children across the country. It is more than just physical abuse—it includes emotional, financial, and psychological abuse, leaving deep and lasting scars. The Reality of...