Family Law

HFG Attorneys Inc. is a leading international law firm specialising in Family Law with a well-established, skilled, and experienced Family Law Department to assist our clients with various types of services. We provide specialised Family law services to our clients.

Our team includes some of the best family law attorneys and divorce lawyers in Cape Town, Paarl and surrounding areas.

Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers in Cape Town and Surrounds

Contested and uncontested Divorces in the Regional- and High Court of South Africa, by representing men and women.
Assisting parties with disputes relating to parental rights and responsibilities in terms of the Children’s Act, which includes guardianship, care and contact of minor children, parental alienation and drafting of parenting plans.
Specializing in same-sex marriages for members of the LBGQT+ community.
Assisting unmarried fathers to establish and enforce their rights for access to their children.
Applications brought in terms of the Domestic Violence Act for protection of a victim subjected to domestic and gender-based violence.

Assistance with opening criminal charges and prosecution thereof through a watching brief, alternatively, private criminal prosecution in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Professional guidance and assisting our clients in Family Advocate investigations.
Assisting parties in changing matrimonial property system in terms section 21 of the Matrimonial Property Act.
Paternity disputes, adoption proceedings and surrogacy applications.
List ItemApplications in terms of the Protection from Harassments Act.
Disputes regarding International Child Abduction and the Hague Conventions Applications for appropriate relief.
Matters relating to spousal and child maintenance law, which include Rule 43 Applications and other urgent monetary and interdictory relief for spouses against one another.
Relocation applications regarding minor children.
General Court litigation regarding family law disputes, including Children Court.
Co-habitation agreements.

As one of the top niche Family Law firms in the area, we serve clients in the following areas:

Paarl, Wellington, Malmesbury, Boschenmeer Golf Estate, Val de Vie Winelands Lifestyle Estate, Pearl Valley Golf Estate and Spa, Darling, Worcester, Franschhoek, Klapmuts, Stellenbosch, Strand, Somerset West, Belville, Durbanville, Kraaifontein, Parow, Century City, Cape Town, Claremont, Hout Bay, Table View, Milnerton, Bloubergstrand, Melkbostrand, Atlantis and many more through our online consultation facility’s.

What is Family Law?

The South African Family Law forms part of the South African Private Law as a sub-division. Family Law entails a specific area of the law that deals with family related matters and disputes, and the regulating of the domestic relationships between the spouses (parents of the minor children), spouses and the minor children, between the children themselves, and the spouses, children, and the state.

When to consult a Family Lawyer and what does a Family Attorney do?

It is always advisable to consult with a top family lawyer or top attorney when you foresee the possible originating of a dispute with your partner or spouse regarding divorce, child custody, accrual, the division of the estate, spousal and child maintenance or the enforcement of current court orders. Attorneys practicing in Family Law can also assist parties reaching an agreement through amicable settlements or pre-marriage guidance that doesn’t necessarily includes conflicts. The best interest of the minor child is always of a paramount importance, and spouses and parents should set their emotions aside with one another when there are children involved.

Considerations before choosing a family law firm to handle your Divorce or Family Law disputes:

Ensure that the firm and the teams value systems are in line with yours.
Ensure that the law firm specialises in Family Law and that they are industry leaders.
Evaluate the firm by their Google reviews, their website, and social media presence and engagement.
Evaluate their ability to assist by their losing cases, as your top Family Law Firms in Cape Town and Paarl will have only a few.
Choose a law firm that isn’t scared of taking the fight to the opponent.
Choose a small size law firm to ensure you get personalised service. In larger law firms, you will only be a number and will get limited personalised legal services and access to the team. Dynamite comes in small packages!

We can also assist with cases related to General Litigation, Criminal Defence and Firearm Law.

Frequently asked questions:

What is the difference between a family lawyer and a divorce lawyer?

In principle, there is no difference as the Divorce Law is a subdivision of the South African Family Law. A divorce lawyer is also a family lawyer in effect.

What type of attorney handles divorces?

An attorney and law firm that specialises in Family Law and forms part of the Family Law and Litigation Departments.

How much does a simple divorce cost?

An unopposed divorce estimated cost can be anything between R 5 000-00 to R 20 000-00 once off, depending on the amounts of consultations that is required to finalise the matter, the length of the settlement agreement, length of negotiations regarding the care and contact arrangement of the children, the drafting of the parenting plan, and the negotiations regarding the division of the estate and assets.

An opposed divorce that is engaged in negotiations between the legal practitioners or litigation, will be calculated on an hourly fee of between R 800-00 to R 2 000-00 per hour plus VAT, and other expenses like for instance correspondent fees, advocate fees, Sheriff expenses, and if required various experts like forensic accountants, industrial psychologist, actuaries, private investigators, or childcare experts.

How do I file for divorce in Cape Town?

Firstly, it is advisable to arrange a first consultation with your Family Law and Divorce Law experts to obtain advice about the process. After your first consultation, your legal representative will draft the relevant court papers on your behalf and proceed to issue them at court and be served on the other spouse.

How do I start the divorce process?

Firstly, it should be noted that you are allowed to handle your divorce yourself, and without legal representatives. However, it is not advisable as you will be left with addressing various complex legal issues which you will not be familiar with or lack the necessary experience to ensure justice. The matter will be even worse if your spouse decides to instruct a well-seasoned and experienced attorney / lawyer to represent him, which will mean the playing field isn’t equal and will be to your detriment and prejudice. Don’t be penny wise, but pound foolish!

Can we divorce without going to court?

Unfortunately, the only way in South Africa to get a divorce is through a court order in the Regional Divorce Court or the High Court in your area of jurisdiction. Most of the issues and disputes will most likely be settlement out of court by the spouses and the legal representatives, whereafter that settlement will be made an order of court.