Divorce is becoming more and more common, not only in South Africa, but all over the world. During 2019 there were 129,597 recorded marriages and 23,710 divorces.
What happens in a Divorce?
The divorce process in South Africa can be relatively straightforward.The financial and emotional consequences of a divorce can, however, be significant. The complexity of your divorce will depend on your unique situation.
South Africa has a ‘no fault’ system of Divorce. A Divorce will be granted if one of the parties believes that there has been an ‘irretrievable breakdown of the marriage relationship’ and that there is no reasonable prospects of restoring the marriage.
In South Africa, there are three types of Divorces: a Contested Divorce, a Mediation Divorce or an Uncontested Divorce:
- Contested Divorce: A Contested Divorce occurs in the case where both parties are unable to reach an agreement on the terms and conditions of the Divorce. This type of Divorce can take years to conclude, and is often financially and emotionally draining.
- Mediation Divorce: In this type of Divorce, couples who are unable to agree on a settlement employ a mediator or an attorney to help them negotiate and reach an agreement. The main purpose of a Mediation Divorce is to help the parties pursue an Uncontested Divorce.
- Uncontested Divorce: An Uncontested Divorce is the fastest and most cost-effective type of Divorce. With this type of Divorce, all parties agree to the terms of the Divorce.
What is marriage counselling?
Marriage counselling, also known as couples therapy, is a type of counselling that focuses on restoring the marriage relationship. Marriage counsellors are trained to help couples find solutions and work through their problems. Marriage counselling provides a platform for couples to openly and honestly discuss their issues and work on solutions to help restore or revive their relationship.
Does marriage counselling work or help?
Yes, marriage counselling can definitely help to some extent. Marriage counselling can be worthwhile for couples who really want to improve their relationship. Communication is, however, key when it comes to dealing with marriage problems. If one or both parties are not open minded and fail to communicate and deal with their issues, then marriage counselling will never work. Marriage counselling will only work if both parties want to save the relationship and are willing to work together through their issues.
Divorce can be financially draining. Legal Angel from Bidvest Insurance helps you take the financial pinch out of the Divorce process. Legal Angel provides you with unlimited mediation and advisory services. Should things transpire further than is desired, we provide legal cover options for divorce matters. Get Legal Angel from Bidvest Insurance today.
