Blog Articles

Mediation is a voluntary process. This means nobody can force you or your opposing party to participate in the process, nor can anybody force either of you to settle in a mediation session.
It is thus very important that all parties to the mediation are committed to the process. Whilst it is true that a wide variety of issues can be resolved by mediation, there are some matters which are not capable of settlement through mediation.

When it comes to family law disputes, lawyers are usually viewed as the harbingers of conflict, discord, and never-ending costs. In some circles, the perception (sadly) exists that lawyers and divorce mediators are diametrically opposed.
Here are three reasons why you should consider appointing a lawyer as your divorce mediator:

Shelly is a second-year cinematography student at a well-known tertiary education institution. At the end of her first year, she requested from the finance department a quotation for her second year of studies. This was presented to her on a document named a tax invoice. The quotation was accepted in that Shelly duly enrolled for her second year by making payment of the deposit requested. In April of her second year, Shelly requested an updated statement from the finance department of the college and was presented with a further “tax invoice”. On this second tax invoice however, Shelly noticed that the amounts previously indicated as the price per module, had suddenly increased! She naturally was very upset about this as she is working part time to pay for her studies and thus requested legal advice in this regard. Does Shelly have any recourse?

Do I have a right to death benefits I was nominated for, and when does it vest?

Lara has approached us with a predicament she finds herself in. Her husband Ben has died and there is a death benefit policy by ABC Insurance to which he was subscribed. The nominated beneficiary of the death benefit was Ben’s father. This matter is complicated because Ben’s father had died some two years before Ben had died. The estate of Ben’s father was at the time of Ben’s death, not wrapped up and now the executor for the estate of Ben’s father, has laid claim to the death benefits to be paid into the estate. Lara feels that the benefits should accrue to her as she was his wife. Does the fact that, she was for the most part financially dependent on Ben and was his wife, not mean that his assets should automatically be hers?