New marriage law

Estate agents are being urged to familiarise themselves with the property-related aspects of the Civil Unions Act that came into effect last month by Dr Willie Marais, president of the Institute of Estate Agents of South Africa (IEASA). This is because the Act puts domestic partnerships on a statutory basis, and contains some provisions relating to property. The two new forms of civil union - civil partnerships or same-sex marriages and registered domestic partnerships (which can be male/female or same-sex) need to be understood by estate agents as they determine who can sign mandates or contracts to do with selling, buying, letting or renting property.

Civil partnerships will fall under the Matrimonial Property Act with partners having the choice between marrying in community of property or by ante-nuptial contract out of community of property.

Full article on Rodneyhayter.com and the Civil Union Act No. 17 of 2006.