Russia has one of the highest divorce rates in the world, with the US also ranking high. But even if you live in South Africa, where the divorce rate is low by comparison, couples tying the knot need to be aware of how their marriage contract will influence how their home, cars and savings are divided when a relationship ends. In a marriage in community of property, the division of assets can be smooth if the couple agree on how the joint estate will be divided. But what happens when spouses are at each other's throats? "Where spouses do not reach an agreement on how to divide their joint estate - as often happens - the court has the power to appoint a receiver or liquidator to realise and divide the assets of the joint estate," said Bertus Preller, a family law attorney. Marriage out of community of property, where a contract must be drawn up before the couple marry, can also be difficult to navigate. In a marriage out of community of property without accrual, spouses do not share ...
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