General (Family) Laws Amendment Bill: Explanatory Summary Gazetted

Posted 06 June 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Justice

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: In terms of the Rules of the National Assembly, the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development has gazetted an explanatory summary of the General (Family) Laws Amendment Bill, 2025, which proposes consequential amendments to the Divorce Act, No. 70 of 1979.

The explanatory summary, re-published on 4 July 2025, serves as a formal notification of the Department’s intention to introduce the Bill to Parliament. The proposed legislation focuses on aligning the Divorce Act, No. 70 of 1979 with related family law statutes and constitutional developments that have occurred since its enactment.

While the full text of the Bill will only be accessible once it has been formally tabled in the National Assembly, the summary indicates that the amendments will address consequential changes required to maintain a cohesive regulatory framework for matrimonial matters. This includes ensuring that provisions regarding the dissolution of marriages are consistent with contemporary judicial standards and related legislation.

Click here to download the explanatory summary of the General (Family) Laws Amendment Bill.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: You must monitor the Parliamentary schedule for the formal tabling of the Bill to obtain the specific wording of the proposed changes to the Divorce Act, No. 70 of 1979.
  • For your business: Law firms specializing in family law should prepare to audit their existing matrimonial precedents and litigation checklists to accommodate the anticipated statutory updates.
  • For your clients: Advise clients currently involved in matrimonial litigation that the legal framework governing their proceedings may be subject to revision during the 2025 legislative cycle.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/general-family-laws-amendment-bill-heads-to-parliament

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