DISTRIBUTED BY VERITAS TRUST VERITAS MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF RELIABLE INFORMATION, BUT CANNOT TAKE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION SUPPLIED. CHAPTER 5:13 MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ACT Acts 33/1985, 11/1987, 18/1989 (s. 38), 2/1990, 6/2000 (s. 151). ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Short title. Interpretation. Additional jurisdiction. Grounds for divorce. Irretrievable break-down. Mental illness or continuous unconsciousness. Division of assets and maintenance orders. Duration of maintenance orders. Variation, etc., of orders. Inquiry as to custody and maintenance of children. Claim for arrear maintenance for children. Recognition of certain decrees and orders. Grounds for decree of nullity. Legitimacy of children of voidable marriages. Evidence. AN ACT to amend the law relating to marriage, judicial separation and nullity of marriages; and to provide for matters incidental thereto or connected therewith. [Date of commencement: 17th February, 1986.] 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Matrimonial Causes Act [Chapter 5:13]. 2 Interpretation (1) In this Act — “action for divorce, judicial separation or nullity of marriage” means an action by which a decree of divorce, judicial separation or nullity of marriage or other relief in connection therewith is applied for, and includes— (a) an application pendente lite for an interdict or for the interim custody of, or access to, a child of the marriage or for the payment of maintenance; or (b) an application for a contribution towards the costs of such action, or to institute such action, or make such action or such application; “appropriate court” means— (a) the High Court, in relation to any marriage; (b) a magistrates court, in relation to any marriage entered into in accordance with customary law; “marriage” includes a marriage solemnized in term of the Customary Marriages Act [Chap ter 5:07]. (2) For the purposes of this Act, an action shall be deemed to have been commenced on the date on which any process in relation to such action is filed or lodged in terms of the rules of the court. 1