Custody and Maintenance

Custody to biological parents preferred

Keeping a child away from their biological parents is cruel and against best interests.

Custody and Maintenance

Stay of Execution

Where there is no change of circumstances stay of execution will not be granted.

Custody and Maintenance

Consistent Routine

Children need a consistent routine including during weekdays. Access orders must be stable.

Custody and Maintenance

Substantial Loss

Denying a mother custody of a girl of tender years is evidence of substantial loss.

Custody and Maintenance

Change of schools

Changing a child from one school to another is not in their best interests.

Custody and Maintenance

Conditions for Review of orders

A review of court orders in children cases must abide with O.45 of the Civil Procedure Rules, 2010.

Custody and Maintenance

Opinion of the child

When determining a child's acertainable wish their age and maturity should be considered.

Custody and Maintenance

Ascertainable wishes of child

A court cannot merely rely on the ascertainable wishes of a child in determining actual custody.

Custody and Maintenance

Removal of child from jurisdiction

There is no rule against removing a child from court's jurisdiction in a custody dispute.

Custody and Maintenance

Exceptions to the Tender Years Rule

Inability to provide for the children in not an exception to the tender years rule.

Custody and Maintenance

Exceptions to the Tender Years Rule

Exceptions to the tender year rule must be proved

Custody and Maintenance

Parents preferred custodians

A child must benefit from parental care and not from third parties

Custody and Maintenance

Exception to Tender years rule

A mother who is not staying with the children is an exception to the tender years principle.

Custody and Maintenance

Parental Responsibility

A parent who insist on taking a child to private school should bear the fees.

Custody and Maintenance

Parental Responsibility

A parent who insist on taking a child to private school should bear the fees.

Custody and Maintenance

Actual custody meaning

Actual custody of a child is not equal to ownership of the child