Legal Questions
Dear Pam
On your website under “legal side of weddings” you say that:” South African couples living in the UK, when marrying in that country, incorrectly assume that they are married by British Law and who discover to their dismay that after the wedding that they are married by South African Law, which is in Community of Property.”
Could you explain to me what happens in this case: When a couple immigrates into South Africa (and have obtained SA Permanent Residence), subsequently marry in South Africa, are they then, without ANC, married under SA Law in Community of Property or under the Law of their country of origin? ...read more
On your website under “legal side of weddings” you say that:” South African couples living in the UK, when marrying in that country, incorrectly assume that they are married by British Law and who discover to their dismay that after the wedding that they are married by South African Law, which is in Community of Property.”
Could you explain to me what happens in this case: When a couple immigrates into South Africa (and have obtained SA Permanent Residence), subsequently marry in South Africa, are they then, without ANC, married under SA Law in Community of Property or under the Law of their country of origin? ...read more
Dear Pam
My daughter is getting married at a restaurant in Blouberg, but she wants the wedding ceremony to take place on the beach. Can you please advise whom to contact to get permission for this and what the cost for this licence will be? ...read more
My daughter is getting married at a restaurant in Blouberg, but she wants the wedding ceremony to take place on the beach. Can you please advise whom to contact to get permission for this and what the cost for this licence will be? ...read more
Dear Pam
Such a useful website, and our visit to your splendid gallery of useful information while on holiday last April made us sure we wanted to get married in Cape Town! I'm British and a UK citizen. My fiancée was born in Cape Town but moved to the UK when she was 10 years old. She has dual nationality but doesn't have a SA passport (she has a UK passport). Can she marry on her British passport? ...read more
Such a useful website, and our visit to your splendid gallery of useful information while on holiday last April made us sure we wanted to get married in Cape Town! I'm British and a UK citizen. My fiancée was born in Cape Town but moved to the UK when she was 10 years old. She has dual nationality but doesn't have a SA passport (she has a UK passport). Can she marry on her British passport? ...read more
Dear Pam
I am English and am marrying an SA citizen next year. We have been told by one person that both our witnesses need to be SA citizens with ID books. We cannot verify this anywhere else. Please could you advise us whether this is true and if so, where we might find further information on it.
We would love our bridesmaid and best man to be able to sign as witnesses, but unfortunately this may now not be possible. We would appreciate any help in this matter
...read more
Dear Pam
Are Muslim and Hindu marriages automatically regarded as civil marriages in South Africa? ...read more
Are Muslim and Hindu marriages automatically regarded as civil marriages in South Africa? ...read more
Dear Pam
I am so glad I found your website, it's exactly what I was looking for. My fiance and I are getting married in Cape Town next year. We are currently living and working in Canada, but are both South African citizens. After the wedding we will continue to live in Canada, but may in the future return to South Africa. What I am wanting to know is firstly, if we have an antenuptial contract drawn up by a South African lawyer, will that stand up in Canada? Should we get one in both countries, which legal system would we fall under? Secondly, in this type of arrangement would we need to get a Canadian marriage licence, or have any kind of civil service in Canada? ...read more
I am so glad I found your website, it's exactly what I was looking for. My fiance and I are getting married in Cape Town next year. We are currently living and working in Canada, but are both South African citizens. After the wedding we will continue to live in Canada, but may in the future return to South Africa. What I am wanting to know is firstly, if we have an antenuptial contract drawn up by a South African lawyer, will that stand up in Canada? Should we get one in both countries, which legal system would we fall under? Secondly, in this type of arrangement would we need to get a Canadian marriage licence, or have any kind of civil service in Canada? ...read more
Dear Pam
I am getting married next month. Is it possible to use both my married and maiden names if I choose to do so, once we're married? What do I need to do to keep my maiden name and do I require special documents in order to use both names? ...read more
I am getting married next month. Is it possible to use both my married and maiden names if I choose to do so, once we're married? What do I need to do to keep my maiden name and do I require special documents in order to use both names? ...read more
Dear Pam
My daughter was married in Central Park in June. She is South African and married an American. They would also like to be married in Cape Town in December this year. Are there any legal implications? ...read more
My daughter was married in Central Park in June. She is South African and married an American. They would also like to be married in Cape Town in December this year. Are there any legal implications? ...read more
Dear Pam
Please advise if you know where I can find anything about Engagement Announcements, i.e. the wording and so on. We are going to get married in Mauritius and so have decided to send out engagement announcements. I have chosen a design but I have no idea what wording to use. ...read more
Please advise if you know where I can find anything about Engagement Announcements, i.e. the wording and so on. We are going to get married in Mauritius and so have decided to send out engagement announcements. I have chosen a design but I have no idea what wording to use. ...read more
Dear Pam
We are planning to get married on a Sunday, which also happens to fall on a public holiday. I heard from some friends that you require special permission to wed on a Sunday and that some ministers won't perform ceremonies on a Sunday. ...read more
We are planning to get married on a Sunday, which also happens to fall on a public holiday. I heard from some friends that you require special permission to wed on a Sunday and that some ministers won't perform ceremonies on a Sunday. ...read more
Dear Pam
Thank you for providing an excellent website! My partner and I are wanting to get married in Cape Town next Easter. I have dual SA/UK nationality and Dave is a UK citizen. Does that have any legal implications for the marriage? I would be grateful for any advice that you can give on this issue. ...read more
Thank you for providing an excellent website! My partner and I are wanting to get married in Cape Town next Easter. I have dual SA/UK nationality and Dave is a UK citizen. Does that have any legal implications for the marriage? I would be grateful for any advice that you can give on this issue. ...read more
Dear Pam
my fiancé and I want to get married in Durban (he is a Zimbabwean citizen living in Zimbabwe and I am a Zimbabwean citizen living in Canada). Do we need any other documents besides passports or identity documents, and will we be married under South African law, regardless of where we live? How far in advance of the wedding should we get in touch with a marriage officer? ...read more
my fiancé and I want to get married in Durban (he is a Zimbabwean citizen living in Zimbabwe and I am a Zimbabwean citizen living in Canada). Do we need any other documents besides passports or identity documents, and will we be married under South African law, regardless of where we live? How far in advance of the wedding should we get in touch with a marriage officer? ...read more
Dear Pam
I am a South African living in London and my fiancé is English (UK citizen). We are getting married in South Africa and I was wondering whether we needed to apply for a licence for this, or if my fiancé needs a visa to get married in South Africa. ...read more
I am a South African living in London and my fiancé is English (UK citizen). We are getting married in South Africa and I was wondering whether we needed to apply for a licence for this, or if my fiancé needs a visa to get married in South Africa. ...read more
Dear Pam
I am getting married next year and would really like to check up on our marital status, as I have heard that there are cases where some people are married to others without their knowledge. Please could you help? ...read more
I am getting married next year and would really like to check up on our marital status, as I have heard that there are cases where some people are married to others without their knowledge. Please could you help? ...read more
Dear Pam
We are two Belgian citizens who want to marry when we are in South-Africa. Is this possible? Does one have to be a South African citizen to marry in your country? Can the mayor marry us? ...read more
We are two Belgian citizens who want to marry when we are in South-Africa. Is this possible? Does one have to be a South African citizen to marry in your country? Can the mayor marry us? ...read more
