When parents are not together, either because they have separated or they never had a formal relationship, the issue of maintenance or child support may cause disagreements. Ultimately the one that suffers most is the child, which is why maintenance courts consider the wellbeing of the child first.
Disagreements may arise over one parent failing to keep the maintenance commitment or only adhering to it partially or sporadically. We have collected a number of articles on the issue of divorce, maintenance, child support, parental rights and kids to help parents understand the importance of maintenance as well as their rights.
When separating is better for the kids
Divorce is never easy for anyone but kids are affected hardest.
Why should the government have to get involved to get parents to pay their papgeld?
Child support grants in South Africa
If you are needy, you can get a grant to help you raise the child you look after. Here's everything you need to know, from the South Africa Government Services.
Mediation can help avoid family disputes disintegrating into complicated court cases.
What’s fair, how is it calculated, and who decides?
How maintenance relates to paying school fees is a tricky area, education law expert Phillipa Tucker explains.
Paying damages
Masanda Peter comes to grips with the tradition of paying pregnancy damages.
The pros and cons of joint physical custody
Even though it sounds like the perfect arrangement, there are some downsides.
Mediation is the way to go says a dad who has been through the divorce storm.
Fair access and continuity can help children feel less unsettled by a divorce. Here’s what to expect.
When maintenance goes wrong
Here are some examples of what happens when maintenance goes wrong:
Should deadbeat parents be blacklisted?
Credit regulator proposes laws to limit maintenance defaulters' credit and loan access.
Four ways to prevent your child from suffering at the hands of your divorce
Often parents have the tendency to involve kids in their break ups- see ways to prevent this.
My ex is using maintenance to control me
How many parents live in fear of being punished by their ex by withholding maintenance.
‘Why I don’t pay child support’
Sipho reveals what he has heard some men say about why they are unwilling to pay.
Mom’s jail sentence for refusing access to child
Parents will not be allowed to use children as pawns in divorce cases, judge insists.
Desperate dads, angry moms
When users speak out about divorce issues, the accusations fly.
Chasing ‘papgeld’
Do we need to spend the time and effort trying to get maintenance, wonders Masanda Peter.
As a divorced parent, does maintenance ever become problematic for you?
