Family Law
Family Law covers a broad array of elements impacting the day-to-day experiences of every family member.
Petra Pretorius Family Law Attorney offers top-notch family law, divorce, estate planning, and property transfer services to cater to the needs of our clients and their families.
Family Law
If you are looking for a Family Law Attorney, Petra Pretorius is the best choice for you! When it comes to family law matters, there are often numerous interconnected factors to consider. It is crucial to establish a solid legal basis early on. While there may be difficult situations that arise, they are challenges that must be faced in order to help improve the family dynamic and allow the relationship to grow and prosper.
At Petra Pretorius Family Law Attorney, we understand the worries and doubts that come with deciding on matters involving your family. In times of high stress in your life, we offer clarity and guidance to lead you in the correct legal direction.
When dealing with a divorce or any other family law matter, it may be one of the toughest times in your life, which is why we strive to offer you caring and committed support throughout the legal proceedings.
Additional Information
Prenuptial Agreements
A prenuptial agreement, antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement (commonly referred to as a prenup), is a written contract entered into by a couple prior to marriage or a civil union that enables them to select and control many of the legal rights they acquire upon marrying, and what happens when their marriage eventually ends by death or divorce.
Couples enter into a written prenuptial agreement to supersede many of the default marital laws that would otherwise apply in the event of divorce, such as the laws that govern the division of property and retirement benefits and savings, and the right to seek alimony (spousal support) with agreed-upon terms that provide certainty and clarify their marital rights. A premarital agreement may also contain waivers of a surviving spouse’s right to claim an elective share of the estate of the deceased spouse.
Is prenuptial agreement a good idea?
Prenuptial agreements can help guarantee your business goes untouched if your marriage were to end in divorce. If you are debt-free or have substantially less debt that your intended spouse, it can protect you from inheriting a portion of your spouse’s debt.
What happens if you don’t get a prenup?
If you don’t like the default rules you can change at least some of them. However, if you decide not to sign a prenup and ultimately get divorced or death, you may not be able to protect certain assets. Without a prenup, you likely will not have nearly as much control over how your assets are divided.
What should I ask for a prenup?
Saving and Spending Strategies – A prenuptial agreement should address the couple’s future financial plans, including investment and retirement strategies. It should also cover how much income is to be paid into joint and/or separate bank accounts, and whether or not there will be any specific spending allowances.
Contact Petra Pretorius Attorney for Your Personalised Counsel
If you are a proper, legal notarised pre- or postnuptial agreement, you will need an the best experienced attorney on your side. Petra Pretorius Family Law Attorney ensures that all parties best concerns will be addressed at all times.
Divorce is a tough call to make
So when you choose to end your marriage, you’ll journey through conflicting emotions, ranging from relief to doubt. However the good news is that getting divorced does not need to be a harrowing experience, in fact it may even be the start of a new beginning for you. In order to turn your divorce into your new beginning that you deserve.
Most people describe divorce as a roller coaster. To cope, you’ll need to rely on friends, family, and your social community. The support they’ll offer is important to your healing process and you should welcome it. Knowing what to expect won’t obliterate the negative emotions you’ll feel. However, it will help you navigate the complexities, so you can successfully regroup.
Choosing Petra Pretorius Attorney, will help you to navigate this complex terrain during this trying time. It is also just as important to have a clear understanding of what you options are regarding your divorce. This will allow you to maintain a level of autonomy and control in this situation, while trying to achieve the best possible outcome for yourself and your dependants.
In the South African context, divorces are relatively straightforward and can fall into three different categories, namely:
1. Contested divorce
2. Uncontested divorce
3. Mediated divorce
Contact Petra Pretorius Attorney for Your Personalised Counsel
If you are considering divorce or if you have been served with divorce papers, you will need an the best experienced divorce lawyer on your side. Petra Pretorius Family Law Attorney will assist you to pursue the best possible outcome for your divorce and/or family law case.
Initial consultations are charged at R1500.00 ex VAT. Thereafter, should you wish for us to act on your behalf, a fee is discussed and agreed upon where after we can move forward with your matter. We promise to get back to you as soon as possible – as we are aware that these cases are more than often very urgent.
The Five Emotions During the Divorce Process
There are 5 common emotions people experience during the divorce process. They are often referred to as the 5 stages of grief. They include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Naturally, these expand to more nuanced emotions that vary based on your circumstances.
Denial
Those who didn’t initiate the divorce often spend a significant amount of time in the denial stage. In certain cases, it may be the cause in a delayed response to divorce papers . Denial provides comfort as it allows people to distance themselves from an overwhelming reality.
Anger
The anger stage is frequently visited by both parties. It is heavy with blame, rage, and cynically dissecting events in your marriage. Because people suppress their emotions while in denial, emotions unleash when they evolve to this next phase. It’s important to be patient with yourself, and encourage your spouse to do the same. Otherwise, it can become consuming. Hostile and vindictive decisions are often made in this phase. To best serve the interests of your family, allow yourself time to cope with the stress of the situation so you are not making decisions purely on emotion.
Bargaining
The initiator is often surprised that they struggle with the bargaining stage. For those individuals, what they’re actually battling is doubt and guilt. As they weigh the odds, it leads them to question their decision and analyse the consequences. However, going back and forth during this stage is common.
Depression
Truthfully, the length of this stage is often long. It can also be the most difficult. It is the darkest period of the night right before dawn. At this point, the reality of the situation has settled in for both sides. This wave of understanding is often overwhelming, sometimes debilitating. During this phase it’s important to lean on your support system and accept help when offered. It’s important to seek counselling for children if they are also struggling with depression. For all parties affected, a trained and experienced therapist can be a worthwhile investment in long-term healing.
Acceptance
Most people find what they consider peace during this phase. Beyond dealing with their reality, they are able to embrace it with hope for the future. You may still experience some negative emotions. It’s also common at this stage to briefly revisit one of the prior stages. Except, you are no longer consumed by those feelings. Though you are not getting your old life back, you will feel a sense of joy. Reclaiming some of your old self and welcoming the oncoming changes is empowering.
Conclusion
Whether you are the initiator or on the receiving end of divorce papers, you will experience some degree of these stages of grief. Understand that it’s normal and allow yourself to move through each in your own time.
Contact Petra Pretorius Attorney for Your Personalised Counsel
If you are considering divorce or if you have been served with divorce papers, you will need an the best experienced divorce lawyer on your side. Petra Pretorius Family Law Attorney will assist you to pursue the best possible outcome for your divorce and/or family law case.
How can we assist?
Utilizing her passion and demonstrated expertise, Petra Pretorius, a family law attorney, has successfully managed a variety of cases, ranging from intricate to relatively simple.
