Separated and/or divorced parents of minor and/or dependent children often find it difficult to communicate meaningfully in order not to put the wellbeing of the children at risk of disruption. Frustrations leading to the collapse of the relationship as well as lengthy, winding and costly litigation proceedings often take a toll on how the parties relate to each other when all is said and done.
In this article, we discuss how Mediation may assist parties to come out with less scars.
According to the Marriages and Divorce Report (2020) released by Statistics South Africa, conclusion of civil marriages fell by 22.5% between 2011 and 2019, whilst a decline of 31.1% was recorded in 2020. Proportionally, divorces decreased by 32.1% between 2019 and 2020. It can reliably be concluded that the decline in divorces during the time given above, could be attributed to the declining numbers of marriages that were concluded.
The records above account for and bring up other matters worth a discussion. Where the parents of a minor or dependent child separate or divorce, the life of such child is considerably disrupted. Emotional and financial support from both parents is important in so many respects in the development and the mental balance especially of a minor child.
Parental plans are clearly defined rules of how parenting will be handled between the parents of the child. In other words, these are general and/or specific arrangements whereby separated or divorced parents agree on how parenting will be managed. A parental plan usually makes provision for at least the following;
- Primary residence of the child(ren) concerned;
- Provisions regarding custody or guardianship;
- Visitation rights of the parent who does not have primary residence of the children;
- Maintenance towards the upkeep of the children;
- Education, religious, social and cultural activities of the children;
- Etc.
A professional mediation process whereby a properly trained Mediator, privy to the legalities of parental plans and awake to the peculiar needs of the parties involved, goes a long way in assisting separated parents to come up with a parental plan that responds to the best interests of the children. This is usually not an easy task, but with our seasoned and legally qualified Mediators, we undertake this task with so much diligence and skill.
Our assistance is comprehensive whilst our approach is committed. We strive to make all the parties involved in the matters that we handle have fond memories years later, knowing that theirs and the competing interests of others were attached with equal importance during the process.
Contact us for professional assistance.
The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. One should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice. The contents of this site contain general information and may not reflect current legal developments or address one’s situation. We disclaim all liability for actions one may take or fail to take based on any content on this site.
