What is family law?
Do you have a family court proceeding pending and want to familiarise yourself with the latest family law jargon used in South Africa? Below is a list of Isixhosa/English legal terms for family law to help you properly follow the language at your pending family court proceeding. But before the legal jargon is listed here a brief explanation of what family law is. Family law refers to the termination, course and formation of family relationships. It is concerned with matters such as dissolution of marriage, prenuptial agreements, separation, spousal support, child custody or support, adoption and visitation. Family law is there to ensure that family court proceedings go accordingly and follow correct procedure.
Isixhosa/English: Legal Terms for family law
English |
IsiXhosa |
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Ab initio
From the beginning / the start. |
Ab initio
Ukusuka ekuqaleni / isiqalo |
Abrogate
To annul, to cancel; to make a law void by legislative repeal. |
Ukubhangiswa
Ukutshitshisa, ukuphelisa; ukwenza |
Access
A parent may, following divorce |
Ukunikezwa kwelungelo
Emva koqhawulo-mtshato umzali |
Accrual
Growing or adding interest on a debt or |
Ukuhluma kwenzala
Ukuhluma/ukongezelela inzala |
Accrual system
To accumulate, to grow, to happen, |
Inkqubo yolwahlulelwano
Kulapho ilifa labatshatileyo lithi likhule, |
Actio iniuriarum
Action resulting from derogation of |
Actio iniuriarum
Inyathelo elithatyathwa ngenxa |
Adoption
An act by which the rights and duties |
Isenzo sokwamkelwa njengomntwana Isenzo sokupheliswa kwamalungelo |
Adultery
Voluntary sexual intercourse between a |
Ukrexezo
Ukwabelana ngesondo okwenzeka |
Affidavit
A statement in writing and on oath, |
Ingxelo efungelweyo
Ingxelo ebhaliweyo efungelweyo, |
Alienate
To transfer title / ownership to |
Unikezelo-lifa
Ukugqithisela ilifa komnye umntu. |
Animus iniurandi
The intention of offending someone. |
Animus iniurandi
Injongo yokukhubekisa umntu. |
Annulment
To make void, to dissolve that which |
Ukutshitshiswa komtshato
Ukwenziwa ilize nokuchitha oko |
Antenuptial contract
Contract before marriage. |
Isivumelwano somtshato
Isivumelwano saphambi komtshato. |
Appellant
The party who appeals a trial court |
Umbheni
Umntu owenza isibheno kwisigwebo |
Assets
Property that has monetary value, |
Izinto onazo
Iimpahla ezinexabiso lemali, kuquka |
Bequest
A disposition by will of personal |
Ulwabiwo-lifa
Ukwabiwa kwelifa lomntu |
Bigamy
The offence of marrying a second time |
Ukutshata kabini ngaxeshanye
Ityala lokutshata okwesibini, ngelixa |
Bona fide
Good faith, without fraud or deceit. |
Bona fide
Ngokunyanisekileyo, ngaphandle |
Canon law
Law of the Christian Church. |
Umthetho wecawe
Umthetho weCawe yobuKrestu. |
Capacity to act
Having legal authority or mental ability |
Amandla engqiqo yasemthethweni Ukuba negunya lomthetho okanye |
Chastisement
The common law right of a parent / |
Ilungelo lokohlwaya
Ilungelo lomzali / likatitshala/ lomnye |
Civil actions
Any lawsuits relating to civil matters |
Izimangalo zoluntu
Nasiphi na isimangalo esiphathelene |
Community of property
A state in which spouses hold property |
Ubunini obudibeneyo bempahla Imeko apho bathi abatshati babe |
Compos mentis
Of sound mind; able to go to trial. |
Compos mentis
Ukuba sezingqondweni eziphileleyo |
Condition
A term / requirement stated in a |
Umqathango wesivumelwano
Umqathango oxelwe kwisivumelwano |
Consanguinity
Relationship by blood / descent from |
Ulwalamano ngegazi
Uzalwano ngegazi / isinyanya |
Consortium
The companionship of a spouse. If a |
Ilungelo lobudlelwane basemtshatweni Xa umntu otshatileyo ethe wonzakala |
Contractual obligation
Does not refer to any duty that arises |
Iimfanelo zesivumelwano
Igama elingabhekiselele kuyo nayiphi |
Curator
A person entrusted with the charge of |
Umgcini
Umntu ophathiswe ulawulo lwelifa, |
Damages
A cash compensation ordered by a |
Iimali zembuyekezo
Imali eyimbuyekezo ngokuyalelwa |
Debentures
A written acknowledgement of a debt |
Imvumo-sikweleti
Isivumo esibhaliweyo sesikweleti |
Defendant
One who is being sued in a civil case by |
Ummangalelwa
Ngulo umangalelwayo kwityala loluntu |
Delict
Violation of the law. |
Utyeshelo-mthetho
Ukutyeshelwa komthetho. |
Delictual
Of or relating to a violation of law. |
Okotyeshelo-mthetho
Okuphathelele kutyeshelo lomthetho. |
Delivery
A legally recognised handing over of |
Unikezelo-malungelo
Ukunikezelwa ngokusemthethweni |
Dependant
A person who to some extent depends |
Umxhomekeki
Umntu othi ngohlobo oluthile |
Desertion
An abandonment of a wife/husband, |
Ukulahlwa
Ukulahlwa komfazi/komyeni; oku |
Discretion
The power of a judge / public official to |
Ukugweba ngokwengqiqo
Amandla omgwebi / egosa loluntu |
Discrimination
Unequal treatment of persons, for a |
Ukucalu-calula
Ukuphathwa kwabantu |
Dissolution of marriage
Termination of the legal relationship |
Ubhangiso-mtshato
Ukupheliswa kobudlelwane |
Divorce
Termination of a marriage otherwise |
Uqhawulo-mtshato
Ukupheliswa komtshato ngandlela |
Donor
The person who donates property to |
Umnikeli-lifa
Umntu onikela ngelifa ukuba |
Duress
Where a person is prevented from |
Unyanzelo
Apho ubani athintelwa ukuba enze |
Equality clause
The right to equal treatment (with the |
Impatho ngokulinganayo
Ukuphathwa komntu wonke |
Error in negotio
When a contract is invalidated because |
Error in negotio
Akukho sivumelwano kuba amaqela |
Fideicommissum
When a property is bequeathed in |
Fideicommissum
Umyolelo okwitrasti. |
Fraudulent
With the intention to defraud. |
Ubumenemene
Iinjongo zokuqhatha / zokudyobha |
Guardian
One who has the charge or custody of |
Umgcini / umlondolozi
Umntu onegunya lokugcina |
Habitual criminal/recidivist
A person convicted of crime on |
Isaphula-mthetho
Umntu ogwetywe amaxesha amaninzi |
Harbouring
The offence under various |
Ukugcina
Ityala lokuzimelisa isaphuli-mthetho |
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Household necessaries
Reasonable household expenses for |
Iindleko zomzi
Iindleko zendoda nomfazi emzini |
Impeachment
To charge a public official with a |
Umangalelo lwegosa
Ukumangalela igosa loluntu ngesenzo |
Impotence
Physical inability of a man/woman to |
Ubunyumba
Ukungakwazi kwendoda/komfazi |
Incapacity
To lack the ability / legal, physical or |
Ukuswela amandla engqiqo
Ukungaphili kakuhle engqondweni |
Incest
A criminal offence that involves sexual |
Umbulo
Ityala lolwaphulo-mthetho |
Infringement
An act that interferes with one of the |
Ibango lamalungelo
Isenzo esiphazamisana namalungelo |
Innocent misrepresentation
When a statement is not known to be |
Umelo olunganyanisekanga
Kulapho ubani athi anike ulwazi |
Insanity
Not mentally responsible to some |
Impambano
Ukurhoxiswa kwetyala lomntu |
Insolvency
A financial condition in which one is |
Ukutshona ngokwemali
Imeko yezemali apho ubani athi |
Intent
A conscious intention on the part of the |
Injongo
Injongo esengqiqweni kwicala |
Inter vivos
To describe a gift or agreement |
Inter vivos
Unikezelwano ngesipho phakathi |
Interdict
court order in which a person is |
Isithintelo senkundla
Umyalelo wenkundla apho umntu |
Intestate
To die without leaving a valid will or |
Ukungabikho komyolelo
Ukufa ngaphandle kokushiya umyolelo |
Jurisdiction
Official power to make legal decisions |
Igunya
Igunya loburhulumente ekwenzeni |
Law of Persons
The legal conception by which the law |
Umthetho wamalungelo obuntu Ingqiqo yomthetho ethi ithathe |
Legacy
A bequest or gift of goods and chattels |
Ilifa
Umyolelo okanye isipho seempahla |
Legatee
A person to whom personal property is |
Iindlamafa
Lowo utyunjelwe ukufumana ilifa |
Legitimate child
A child born in a valid wedlock of |
Umntwana womtshato
Umntwana ozalelwe kumtshato |
Liquidator
One who is appointed to carry out the |
Umphelisi-shishini
Umntu owonyulelwe ukuthwala |
Lucidum intervallum
Temporary sanity (of a disturbed mind). |
Lucidum intervallum
Ukubanamaxesha ushiywe ziingqondo |
Maintenance
Providing children, or other persons in |
Isondlo
Ukubonelela abantwana, okanye |
Mala fide
In bad faith, fraudulent. |
Mala fide
Ngokunganyanisekanga, |
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Malicious desertion
When one spouse abandons the other |
Ukulahlwa ngolunya
Ukulahlwa ngaphandle kwesizathu |
Marital power
Authority or power of a husband over |
Igunya lendoda
Igunya / amandla endoda kumfazi |
Metus
When a debtor is threatened and |
Metus
Apho umntu onesikweleti athi kuba |
Minor
A person who has not attained full age, |
Umntwana
Umntu ongekafikeleli kubudala |
Mortis causa donatio
A gift made in anticipation of death. |
Mortis causa donatio
Isipho esenziwe ngenx’ engaphambi |
Mutatis mutandis
Similar manner, with the necessary |
Mutatis mutandis
Ngokufanayo, ngeenguqu eziyimfuneko. |
Negligence
Failure to exercise the degree of care |
Ukungakhathali
Ukusilela ukuthabatha iqondo |
Notarial contract
A contract that is attested and certified |
Isivumelwano esingqinelweyo
Isivumelwano esifungelweyo |
Offence
An act or omission punishable under |
Ityala
Isenzo / ukungenzi njengoko |
Offer
A display of willingness to enter into a |
Isithembiso
Ukubonisa umnqweno wokungena |
Parole
The release of a prisoner from |
Ingqawule
Ukukhululwa kwebanjwa eluvalelweni |
Partnership
The relation between persons carrying |
Ubulingane
Ubudlelwane obuphakathi kwabantu |
Patrimonial law
Law dealing with all of a person’s |
Umthetho wezinto onazo
Zizonke izinto zexabiso, kuquka |
Performance
Fulfilment of one’s obligations required |
Uzalisekiso-mfanelo
Ukuthi ubani azalisekise iimfuno zakhe |
Plaintiff
A person who brings a case against |
Ummangali
Umntu ozisa ityala kwinkundla |
Polyandry
When a woman has more than one |
Unobayeni
Isithembu apho inkosikazi inabayeni |
Polygamy
Practice / custom of having more than |
Isithembu
Isiko lokuba nomfazi / umyeni |
Positive law
Existing law created by legally valid |
Umthetho ovumayo
Umthetho okhoyo nodalwe ziinkqubo |
Presumption
A rule of law that permits a court to |
Ubunyaniso bobungqina
Ummiselo womthetho ovumela ukuba |
Prodigal
A person who cannot be trusted to look |
Usonkcitho
Umntu ekungenakuthenjelwa kuye |
Prohibited degrees of affinity
Forbidden degrees of consanguinity. |
Amaqondo ozalwano ngegazi
Amaqondo angavumelekanga omtshato |
Puberty
The age of 14 in males and 12 in |
Ukufikisa
Ubudala obuli-14 emakhwenkweni |
Putative marriage
A marriage that is actually null, but has |
Usinga-mtshato
Umtshato ongasinguwo owenene, |
Real rights
Rights pertaining to a thing rather than |
Amalungelo ento
Amalungelo anxulumene nezinto |
Real/actual damages
Those losses that can readily be proven |
Umonakalo onokubuyekezelwa Zezo lahleko sekukho ubungqina |
Rebuttable presumption
An ordinary presumption that must, as |
Ubungqina obuphikisekayo
Ummiselo wasemthethweni ovumela |
Recourse
The legal right to demand |
Ibango-mbuyekezo
Ilungelo elisemthethweni lokubanga |
Redistribution
The act or process of distributing |
Ulwabiwo ngokutsha
Isenzo okanye inkqubo yokwabiwa |
Repudiation
Denial of the existence of a contract |
Ukhanyelo-sivumelwano
Ukuphikwa/ukukhanyelwa kobukho |
Rescission
The cancellation of a contract and the |
Urhoxiso-sivumelwano
Ukurhoxiswa kwesivumelwano |
Satisfaction
Receiving payment or performance of |
Ukwenza ngokulindelekileyo
Ukwamkela intlawulo okanye ukwenza |
Seduction
Use of charm, promises or gifts to |
Ukuwexula
Ukusetyenziswa kwekhubalo, |
Sequestrate
The act of seizing / taking possession |
Ukuthimba
Isenzo sokohlutha / sokuthabatha |
Set off
A claim by a defendant in a lawsuit that |
Ibango lesikweleti
Ibango elenziwa ngummangalelwa |
Solacium
Compensation, especially damages, |
Imbuyekezo-ntuthuzelo
Imbuyekezo, umz. umonakalo |
Squander
To waste in a reckless or foolish |
Ukudyakraza
Ukudyakraza ngendlela engenankathalo |
Stante matrimonio
During the subsistence of the marriage |
Stante matrimonio
Ngelixa umtshato uqhubayo. |
Statute law
State-written law enacted by state |
Umthetho welizwe obhaliweyo
Umthetho obhaliweyo welizwe, |
Stuprum
Immorality/unchastity on the part of |
Stuprum
Ukungabikho sikweni nokungabikho |
Sui generic
The only one of its kind / peculiar. |
Sui generic
Ekuphela kwayo kuhlobo lwayo / |
Tacit agreement
Understood without being stated; |
Isivumelwano esithe tu
Isivumelwano esinokuqondwa nokuba |
Testator
The one who makes a will. |
Umyoleli
Ubani owenza umyolelo. |
Third party
A person who is not specified in a |
Umntu wesithathu
Umntu ongenanto yakwenza |
Trust
A right of property, real or personal, |
Itrasti
Ilungelo lelifa eligcinwe ngomnye |
Undue influence
Amount of pressure that one uses to |
Umyolelo onyanzelweyo
Uxinzelelo athi ubani alusebenzise |
Unjustified enrichment
A benefit by chance, mistake or |
Uxhamlo ngokungafanelekanga Ukufumana ngebhaqo okanye ngesehlo |
Void
When there is a legally valid reason |
Ihamte
Kuxa kukho isizathu esisemthethweni |
Voidable
Capable of being made void, e.g. a |
Ukuhamteka
Sinako ukwenziwa sibe lihamte, umz, |
Waive
When one renounces or disclaims a |
Ukuncama / ukuhlamba
Xa ubani engasibangi isibonelelo, |
Wrongful conduct
An act that unjustly infringes on |
Impatho yokwaphul’ amalungelo Isenzo esiphazamisana namalungelo |
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