Hartmann Attorneys

Regional Courts now have divorce jurisdiction

jana — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:48:04 +0000

A fairly recent amendment to the Magistrates’ Courts Act has resulted in the Regional Magistrates Courts gaining jurisdiction over divorce actions. Individuals now have the option of approaching their local division of the Magistrate Court to institute divorce proceedings. In relatively straight forward circumstances, parties may now be able to secure a speedier resolution to their divorce, at [...]

Deceased Estates

jana — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:08:26 +0000

When a loved one passes away, the world does not wait for us to come to terms with the change. Mercilessly, it carries us forward in the daily flow.

Although we may not want to consider such mundane issues as the winding-up of the deceased estate, parties are compelled by law [...]

Constructive Dismissal

jana — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:17:52 +0000

To all employees considering resignation under difficult work circumstances – think twice before you take the road of constructive dismissal against your employer at the CCMA.

Constructive dismissal is the exception to the rule when it comes to burden of proof. In all other instances of unfair dismissal, the employer has [...]

Hartmann Attorneys have gone Google!

jana — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:52:21 +0000

Hartmann Attorneys is launching its internet marketing campaign through Google on 1 September 2011. Watch this space for law updates and other points of interest. Because we make the law “user friendly” to all.

The Con-Arb Process in the CCMA

jana — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:18:35 +0000

The Con-Arb process provided for by the CCMA is geared towards accelerating the dispute resolution process between conflicting parties (i.e. employer and employee). Ideally spoken, conciliation runs directly into arbitration, should the parties fail to reach an agreement regarding settlement of the dispute during conciliation. Although formal legal representation is not normally allowed during conciliation, [...]

I have been sued! What happens now….?

jana — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:43:27 +0000

When most people receive a summons or notice to appear in Court from the Sheriff, they don’t really know what to do. The basic Court rules stipulate that a respondent/defendant (that is the person being sued or called to court) must follow certain procedures if he/she wishes to defend/oppose any action or application brought against [...]

The difference between an action and an application in Court process….

jana — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:03:29 +0000

Our Rules of Court in general make a distinction between two primary forms of process, namely the action- and application process respectively. All actions are instituted by way of the issue of a summons and all applications are launched by way of a notice of motion. Because the application process utilises founding- and other types of [...]

The new Consumer Protection Act is upon us!

jana — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 12:10:23 +0000

THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 68 OF 2008

This month I will be focussing on the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, since particular sections of this Act will come into operation on 24 April 2010, which date is around the corner and the balance of the Act will come into effect on 24 October [...]

Contracting in Cyber Space

jana — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:10:38 +0000

When I started my legal studies in the early 1990′s, computers and other electronic media were still a far cry from what most of us encounter regularly these days.

However, now as I sit here writing this article, I cannot imagine practising law without a little help from my WAP enabled cellphone, the 4-in-1 office machine [...]

Open communication lines as a priority for Hartmann Attorneys

jana — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:57:07 +0000

I have been involved in the legal field for the past fifteen years. My career in law has been a work in progress and I have taken various turns and detours before I launched my own legal practice.

However, what these past years have taught me very well, is that the legal process is an enigma to most [...]