BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//ThinkLegal - ECPv6.16.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:ThinkLegal
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://thinklegal.co.za
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for ThinkLegal
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:Africa/Johannesburg
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0200
TZOFFSETTO:+0200
TZNAME:SAST
DTSTART:20250101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260624T170000
DTEND;TZID=Africa/Johannesburg:20260624T200000
DTSTAMP:20260613T035801
CREATED:20260603T063920Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260604T110512Z
UID:3400-1782320400-1782331200@thinklegal.co.za
SUMMARY:Parenting Plans as Legal Instruments
DESCRIPTION:Parenting Plans as Legal Instruments\nDrafting\, Formalisation\, Enforcement and Variation\nParenting plans are frequently prepared through mediation\, negotiation or other structured family dispute-resolution processes. Although they may arise from agreement between parties\, they are legally significant instruments that regulate the exercise of parental responsibilities and rights in respect of a child. \nDepending on their legal status\, parenting plans may affect the implementation of care\, contact\, residence\, decision-making and related provisions. They may also influence later disputes concerning enforcement\, amendment\, termination or variation. \nThis training provides a practical legal framework for mediators\, associated ADR practitioners\, mental health professionals and family law practitioners who assist parties with parenting plans\, care and contact disputes\, and matters concerning the exercise of parental responsibilities and rights. \nThe session will examine parenting plans within the framework of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005\, with attention to parental responsibilities and rights\, the best interests of the child standard\, child participation\, formalisation\, Parenting Coordination\, enforcement risk and variation. \nThe training is designed to assist participants in approaching parenting plans with greater legal clarity\, improved drafting awareness\, and a better understanding of how these instruments operate once they are signed\, registered with the Family Advocate\, or made an order of court. \nEvent Details\nDate: 24 June 2026\nTime: 17:00 – 20:00\nPlatform: MS Teams\nDuration: 3 hours\nFee: R850 per person\nCPD: Accredited for 3 SAAM CPD’s \nWho Should Attend\nThis training is suitable for: \n\nMediators and associated ADR practitioners\nParenting Coordinators\nPsychologists\nSocial Workers\nFamily counsellors\nAttorneys\nCandidate legal practitioners\nAdvocates\nOther professionals involved in the preparation or implementation of parenting plans\, care and contact disputes\, or child-related family dispute-resolution processes\n\nWhat Will Be Covered\nThe training will provide a structured overview of the following topics: \n\nWhy parenting plans should be treated as legal instruments\nThe Children’s Act framework\, parental responsibilities and rights\, and the best interests of the child standard\nSection 22 agreements versus Section 33 parenting plans\nChild participation and decision-making under the Children’s Act\nDrafting effective parenting plans: structure\, precision and practicality\nFormalisation: registration\, orders of court and legal effect\nParenting Plans and Parenting Coordination\nEnforcement\, variation and litigation risk\nCommon pitfalls and lessons from practice\n\nKey Outcomes\nBy the end of the training\, participants should be better equipped to: \n\nUnderstand the legal nature and function of parenting plans within the framework of the Children’s Act.\nDistinguish between section 22 agreements\, section 33(1) parenting plans and section 33(2) parenting plans.\nRecognise the difference between creating or allocating parental responsibilities and rights and regulating the exercise of existing parental responsibilities and rights.\nIdentify the core legal and practical components of a legally coherent and practically implementable parenting plan.\nDevelop the knowledge required to contribute to the preparation of and evaluate parenting-plan provisions with greater legal awareness.\nUnderstand the legal effect of registration with the Family Advocate and orders of court.\nAppreciate the role of child participation and the best interests of the child standard in the development\, interpretation\, formalisation\, enforcement and variation of parenting plans.\nUnderstand how parenting plans intersect with Parenting Coordination\, including the distinction between implementation and variation.\n\nParticipant Materials\nParticipants will receive: \n\nCourse manual\nRelevant legislation\nRelevant regulations\nRelevant case law\n\nPresenter\nMervyn Vermeulen is an attorney of the High Court of South Africa\, a solicitor of Scotland\, a SAAM accredited mediator and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. \nHe is a Director of Vermeulen Attorneys\, Malan Vermeulen Incorporated and ThinkLegal\, and regularly presents training on South African family law\, child law\, mediation and family dispute resolution. \nFor enquiries\, contact:\nnadia@vermeulenlaw.co.za
URL:https://thinklegal.co.za/event/parenting-plans-as-legal-instruments/
LOCATION:Online Teams Meeting
CATEGORIES:Webinars
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://thinklegal.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Parenting-plan-ad-1920x1080-1.png
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR