Should my husband pay for another woman’s child?
I have been married in community of property for 30 years with 4 grown up children, and recently discovered that my husband was paying maintenance for the 8 year-old child of my former best friend. She is now divorced from her husband who is now suing my husband for half a million rand claiming for money spent on a child whom he thought was his. I work for my husband’s company and have done so for the past 15 years. I now fear for the future. What can I do?
Category: Marriage and Divorce, Access Rights
Region: South Africa, Limpopo
1 Answer
Being married in community of property means that on divorce, you are entitled to half of all assets after liabilities have been deducted. Currently your husband is obliged to pay maintenance for the minor child which is his sole responsibility, but which will unfortunately come out of your joint estate because you are still married. You share your profits and your losses. The law suit is unlikely to succeed. The plaintiff should sue the ex-wife. If you are thinking of divorce you should speak to a divorce attorney about the implications, more especially with respect to assets and the future, inclusive of the business.