At Diedericks Verster, we offer a virtual and fully online family law assistance portal. We can assist you with a variety of family related matters regardless of where you are located. There is no need to schedule an in person consultation. Our online booking system allows you to choose a time comfortable for you and to consult with us via Microsoft Teams from the comfort of your own home.
No need to phone, stand in a queue or drive to a physical office.
Clients in the Bloemfontein area have the added advantage of being able to schedule face to face consultations with one of the members of our team should they wish.
Or are you tired of being stuck in an endless loop of conflict, broken promises, and disappointment? Making the decision to end your marriage is a serious one. The divorce process itself and a lack of knowledge thereof plays a considerable role in your decision.
Our firm is qualified, competent, and motivated to help you in navigating the process from start until finish. When you are considering getting a divorce it is important to understand that there exists two main options, namely, an uncontested divorce and a contested divorce.
This usually occurs when the spouses agree on the terms on which they want to exit the marriage such as for example: the division of their respective financial assets; care contact and primary residence of their minor children; maintenance of their children; maintenance between spouses and division of matrimonial assets.
These terms are then set out in a settlement agreement drafted by an attorney at our offices and the legal process which follows ensures that a decree of divorce is granted making the terms of the said agreement an order of court. In general, unopposed divorces are far cheaper and faster than opposed divorces due to the parties being able to reach settlement. Our offices usually offer our unopposed divorce services on a fixed once-off fee basis.
For our Bloemfontein clients or clients who have a spouse located within the Free State province, we can offer all of our divorce-related legal services from two courts located mere minutes from our offices, the Free State Regional Division, held at Bloemfontein and the Free State Division of the High Court, held at Bloemfontein. Our team of support staff have, over time, built up reputable relationships with all key role players at these respective courts to ensure that our service delivery to you is both accurate and timely.
For clients located outside of our home jurisdiction in the Free State province, we can offer our services to you without any delay or inconvenience with the help of our many loyal and committed local agents in areas such as: Kimberley, Postmasburg,
Upington, Kakamas, Kathu, Hopetown, Johannesburg, Roodepoort, Randburg, Krugersdorp, East Rand, Pretoria, Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom, Vryburg, Brits, Nelspruit, Sabie, White River, Mokopane, Polokwane, Secunda, Trichardt, Cape Town, Paarl, George, Oudtshoorn, Uniondale, Graaff-Reinet, East London and Port Elizabeth.
The opposite of an unopposed divorce, where the spouses are unable to agree on terms for their divorce. Statistics show that more than 90% of all divorces which start opposed end up being settled. In the few cases in which parties are unable to reach settlement of any kind, the matter will be heard in a trial court and judgement will be given by a presiding officer.
Opposed divorces are more expensive and time consuming than unopposed divorces.
Every year more and more South Africans are making the choice to emigrate in search of safety and better economic opportunities. The breakdown of familial relations because of the stressors of emigration is a common phenomenon.
Many couples find themselves split between a foreign country and South Africa, not knowing how to go about getting divorced. Our firm can assist you in getting a divorce no matter where you or spouse are in South Africa, and no matter in
which other country the other party is located.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being the victim of abuse from someone whom you are in a domestic relationship with, our firm can help you seek relief through our court system.
We have extensive experience in matters relating to the application for protection orders in terms of the Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998.
We always advise our clients to seek a legal professional to assist with drawing up an application for a protection order in terms of the Domestic Violence Act.
Our firm will assist you with the entire process including drafting of the necessary documentation, lodgment of your application with the clerk of the court, court appearances in relation to your matter and argument of your case if needed.
In addition, we offer representation for persons against whom applications for protection orders have been made.
For our Bloemfontein clients, we engage directly with the relevant stakeholders at the Tshepong Magistrates Court where all applications in terms of both the Domestic Violence Act and the Protection from Harassment Act are dealt with.
Our firm has dealt with many matters at this court and we are well versed with its directives and have a good working relationship with its staff.
Beyond divorce and protection orders, Diedericks Verster Inc. offers extensive expertise in a wide range of family law issues, ensuring the best possible outcomes for you and your loved ones.
If you and your spouse wish to change your matrimonial property regime our offices can assist you with an application in terms of Section 21 of the Matrimonial Property Act 88 of 1984.
We have extensive knowledge and experience in various matters relating to minor children. We are here to assist in ensuring that the best interests of your minor children are taken care of. In this regard, we can assist in a wide range of child law related matters such as:
We deal extensively with matters relating to maintenance and maintenance disputes.
We represent parties who wish to apply for the granting of a maintenance order; the variation of a maintenance order; discharge of a maintenance order or claims for arrear maintenance. Our offices are well acquainted with the various stakeholders at
the maintenance division of the Magistrate’s Court in Bloemfontein.
Our in-depth understanding of the division’s practices and directives empowers us to assist you in a cost effective and efficient manner.
During contested divorce proceedings it might be necessary to apply for interim relief from court regarding issues such as maintenance, legal cost contributions and care and contact of minor children.
We are capable of assisting both applicants and respondents in such applications in both the High Court and Regional Division. It is important for any divorce litigant to keep in mind that the outcome of a rule 43 or rule 58 application can, in some
instances, set the tone for all subsequent litigation between the spouses.
Consequently, it is necessary to ensure that you are represented by legal practitioners who are both competent and willing to invest their time in your matter.
There are occasions when our legal system allows for the usual rules of civil procedure to be abbreviated in the interests of urgency. Urgent applications, whilst extremely serious, are a common phenomenon in family law related matters.
We are able to consider the merits of your case and advise on the possibility of its success in an urgent court. We always seek to be open and honest with our clients regarding their chances of succeeding with an urgent.
Our entire team will be at your disposal and will set aside non-urgent matters to ensure that your case is properly attended to, in the event that your matter is, in our opinion, urgent.
I want to get divorced or need help with another family law related matter, what should be my first step?
Our firm prefers to meet in person or via Teams Link with our clients to discuss your matter.
The aim of this first meeting is to establish the following:
Following our initial consultation, we will take the information gathered to develop a tailored legal strategy designed to achieve the best possible outcome for your situation.
As attorneys we do not sell products, but rather our time and knowledge spent on a particular matter.
As a result of the many unique features of contract drafting instructions, we are unable to provide set prices each and every type of instruction. Therefore, our firm will provide you with quotes on a case by case basis after the conclusion of our first consultation.
Family related litigation matters are in their essence unpredictable in nature.
Therefore, it is always important to remember that we are unable to make promises or guarantees of the outcome.
The only thing we can guarantee our clients is maximum effort and unwavering professional support in every task we engage in on their behalf.