Frequently Asked Questions

Legal Advice

Legal Aid South Africa
Legal Aid South Africa provides professional legal advice and representation to those who can’t afford it. Visit their website or call them on the Legal Aid Advice Toll Free Line: 0800 110 110.

South African University Law Clinics (SAULCA)
SAULCA is a voluntary association of all South African University Law Clinics. Follow this link to view the contacts for the Law Clinics at our various Universities who provide legal aid services.

Pro bono (free) legal services by LPC attorneys
Pro bono is administered by the Legal Practice Council where attorneys are registered.
To qualify for free legal assistance, a person must comply with a ‘means test’ (a maximum monthly or no income) and have a legal problem with merit. You will be referred to an attorney by the Legal Practice Council who will assist you free of charge (pro bono). If a referral is made to a pro bono attorney, the client is responsible only for the cost of disbursements (actual expenses), such as Sheriffs’ fees, and the attorney will not charge any fees for the work and legal services provided.

FAQs

• Apostille Certificates or a Certificate of Authentication
  In South Africa the Department of International Relations and Co-Operations (DIRCO) are the administrators of this process. Consular notarial services are rendered to South African citizens and foreign nationals requiring South African official (public) documents to be legalised for use abroad. These services are rendered to provide legal validity to South African official (public) documents to enable a person to use the documents outside the Republic of South Africa. Legalising documents means that official (public) documents executed within the Republic of South Africa for use outside the Republic of South Africa are affixed, sealed and signed either with an Apostille Certificate (where countries are signatory to the Apostille Convention) or with a Certificate of Authentication (where countries are not signatory to the Apostille Convention).
  
  

  Kindly contact the Legalisation Section of the Chief Directorate Consular Services of Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) for the required apostille and they can be emailed at legalisation@dirco.gov.za. Please note that Legalisation Services are only rendered at the offices in Pretoria.

• Bail
• Divorce
  A divorce is a process in terms of which a civil marriage, a customary marriage, civil union or marriage concluded in terms of religious rights is dissolved by a court of law. Legal Aid South Africa has a very useaful Self-Help Guide to Obtaining a Decree of Divorce.
• Domestic Violence
• Drafting legislation
• Drugs:
  - What can you as a parent, caregiver or guardian do when you discover that your child is using drugs? (2017)
  - Don't use or sell drugs (2025)
• Equality Courts/Discrimination
• Expungement/removal of criminal records
• Getting married - The solemnisation and registration of civil marriages, customary marriages and civil unions are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. Civil marriages are governed by the Marriage Act and regulations issued in terms of the Act. South Africa also recognizes customary marriages through the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, which became effective in November 2000. Civil unions are recognised in terms of the Civil Union Act (2006).
• What is Harmful Religious Practices?
• Intermediary Services provided in Courts
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) People
• Master of the High Court: Deceased Estates
• Master of the High Court: General
• Master of the High Court: Guardian's Fund
• Master of the High Court: Wills
• Maintenance
• National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO)
• Promotion of Access to Information (PAIA)
• Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA)
• Rationalisation of Magisterial Districts
• Restorative Justice
• Services for Women
• Sexual Assault
• Sexual Offences
• Sheriffs
• Small Claims Court
• Testifying in Court
• The Children's Act and adoption
• The Family Advocate
• Traffic Fines: Please follow this link to the AARTO website (https://online.aarto.gov.za/) for information on how to pay your fine and/or how to make a representation should you believe there are reasonable grounds for cancelling your ticket.
• What is Ukuthwala? Ukuthwala is a form of abduction that involves kidnapping a girl or a young woman by a man and his friends or peers with the intention of compelling the girl or young woman’s family to endorse marriage negotiations.
• 419 Scams (So-called advance fee fraud)

How to lodge a complaint:

• Against a service point/court/Master’s Office
  Complaints on the conduct of the Clerks/Administration should be lodged with the Court Manager at that office for his/her attention.
  Complaints on the conduct of the Court Manager should be lodged with the Area Court Manager or Director, Court Operations for his/her attention.
• Against a lawyer/attorney through the relevant law society
• Against a prosecutor through the NPA.
  Complaints on the conduct of the Prosecutors should be lodged with the Chief Prosecutor for the area of the respective court.
  You can also call the NPA Hotline 0800 21 25 80, operated by an independent organization, available 24 hours a day. Anonymous calls accepted.
• Against a member of the South African Police Service through their website or via the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)
• Against a Sheriff through the South African Board for Sheriffs
• Against a Magistrate through the Magistrates Commission
• Against a Judge through the Judicial Service Commission