Due to Covid 19 economic results, this is a problem we are unfortunately receiving a lot of queries on now, more than ever. Some parents really struggle to pay basic expenses and maintenance, but as with other expenses due and payable, we are also witnessing some individuals responsible to pay maintenance that are using the situation of Covid as an easy excuse while they can still afford to pay. The question I want to discuss today is : Can a parent’s estate be sequestrated due to non-payment of maintenance?
QUICK ANSWER : YES IT IS POSSIBLE. Let’s have a look at when and how it is possible as the first thought is extreme cases, but I think a lot of single parents are experiencing these extreme situations now with limited options. At least you will know of one more option available when you are frustrated and tired and still fighting fit.
In a recent judgment handed down by Makaula J in the Eastern Cape High Court in the case of A v H, the estate of an unemployed father was sequestrated following an application which was brought by his ex-wife.
From the summary below you will note that only in extreme cases, and only once the requirements for sequestration have been met, a parent can then apply for the other’s estate to be sequestrated based on the non-payment of arrear maintenance.
The merits of the case of A v H:
May 2010, the parties were divorced by way of a settlement agreement that was signed. One of the terms of the settlement agreement was that the Respondent, the father of two minor children, would pay the Applicant (the mother) maintenance for the minor children in the amount of
R3 000.00 per month per child. According to the Applicant, the mother, the Respondent did not comply with the terms of the agreement and fell into arrears in the amount of R360 000.00. A Judgment was therefore granted against the Respondent for the arrears owing as was due per court order. The Respondent indicated that he is unable to pay the amount as ordered and the Applicant proceeded to apply for the father’s estate to be sequestrated. The Respondent’s defence to the application for sequestration of his estate was inter alia that he was unemployed and had no source of income.
Section 12(8) of the Insolvency Act 24 of 1936, (“the Act”) states that for a final sequestration order to be granted the court must be satisfied with the following:
8(1) that the sequestrating creditor has established a claim against the debtor of not less than R100.00 entitling him or her to apply for the sequestration of the debtor’s estate. Safe to mention that in this case, that requirement was met as the arrears amounted to R360 000.00;
8(2) either the debtor has committed an act of insolvency or the debtor is Insolvent. This requirement was also met, as will be detailed below; and
8(3) there is reason to believe that it will be to the advantage of creditors if the debtor’s estate be sequestrated. Accordingly this ……… was also met.
Although the Respondent made a case that he should be discharged from his obligation to pay maintenance due to his unemployment, the judge held that the judgment against him for the arrear maintenance stood as such order was never set aside by any court. The judgment debt was therefore valid, and the Applicant was indeed a judgment creditor of the Respondent. It was further never denied that the Respondent was insolvent. In fact, the Respondent admitted that he had no assets and was unemployable due to his age and lack of skills and/or education.
The judge quoted De Villiers NO v Maursen Properties (Pty) Ltd 1983(4) SA 670 at 676 E by stating that an “act of insolvency is a statutory concept which obviates the necessity of providing actual insolvency”.
Section 8 of the Insolvency Act stipulates the acts which a debtor must commit in order to be declared insolvent. Section 8(a) stipulates that “a debtor commits an act of insolvency if he leaves the Republic or being out of the Republic remains absent therefrom, or departs from his dwelling or otherwise absents himself, with intent by so doing to evade or delay the payment of his debts”.
Between 2011 and 2013, the Respondent was notified in writing on numerous occasions of the arrear maintenance that was owing to the Applicant. The Respondent thereafter sold all his assets, unbeknownst to the Applicant. The Applicant therefore tried to serve a writ of execution on the Respondent, however he could not be found. Various tracing agents found that the Respondent was in hiding and it could not be established what his address was at a specific time. Thus, it was confirmed that the Respondent had satisfied section 8a of the insolvency Act by committing an act of insolvency by evading service of the writ of execution.
It has been held that once it is established that the requirements for insolvency have been satisfied, judges still have a discretion or choice as to whether the order for sequestration should be granted or not. Thus, it is not automatic that if the requirements are satisfied, sequestration will be granted. There is little authority, however, on how such discretion should be exercised and thus the onus rests with the Respondent to establish special or unusual circumstances that warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in his or her favour in these kind of applications.
The judge finally held that it was clear that on the Respondent’s own version, that he knew two years after the granting of the divorce that he could not meet his maintenance obligations in terms of the court order as he was unemployed.
At such point he had assets that could have been liquidated to contribute towards the maintenance. He continued to not pay maintenance for five years following the divorce. Despite knowing of the arrear maintenance that he owed he sold all his assets and did not use the funds therefrom to contribute towards his debt. This ultimately prejudiced the minor children and thus the court granted the final order for sequestration of the Respondent’s estate.
If you have any queries regarding arrear maintenance or a new claim for maintenance contact our office to speak to one of our professionals to assist in the process.