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FEEDBACK<br />

The Deeds Registries Act 47 of 1937 prescribes <strong>the</strong> formalities which must<br />

be complied with if an antenuptial contract is <strong>to</strong> be valid as against third<br />

parties. In terms of this Act an antenuptial contract must comply with <strong>the</strong><br />

formalities of notarial execution and registration. If <strong>the</strong>se formal<br />

requirements are not fulfilled however, <strong>the</strong> antenuptial contract is, in<br />

terms of <strong>the</strong> Act, of no force or effect as against anyone not a party <strong>to</strong> it<br />

and <strong>the</strong> marriage is considered <strong>to</strong> be in community of property in so far as,<br />

for example, it affects deb<strong>to</strong>rs or credi<strong>to</strong>rs of ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> husband or <strong>the</strong><br />

wife.<br />

It has always been, and still is, permissible for spouses who had definitely<br />

agreed prior <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> marriage <strong>to</strong> conclude an antenuptial contract, but who<br />

had not complied with <strong>the</strong> requirements of <strong>the</strong> Deeds Registries Act, <strong>to</strong><br />

have <strong>the</strong> contract executed and registered after <strong>the</strong> marriage, with <strong>the</strong><br />

consent of <strong>the</strong> high court. This possibility is expressly provided for in<br />

section 88 of <strong>the</strong> Deeds Registries Act. Three requirements must be met<br />

before <strong>the</strong> court will grant consent in terms of section 88:<br />

(1) The parties must definitely have agreed on <strong>the</strong> terms of <strong>the</strong><br />

antenuptial contract before contracting <strong>the</strong> marriage;<br />

(2) <strong>the</strong> parties must provide good reasons for <strong>the</strong>ir failure <strong>to</strong> properly<br />

execute and/or register <strong>the</strong> antenuptial contract, and<br />

(3) <strong>the</strong> application must be made within a reasonable time after it has<br />

been discovered that <strong>the</strong> agreement has not been properly executed or<br />

registered.<br />

The application, in terms of section 88, can be made by ei<strong>the</strong>r one or both<br />

spouses or even by a beneficiary under a will.<br />

3 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WHICH APPLY IN RESPECT OF THE<br />

MINOR'S ANTENUPTIAL CONTRACT<br />

You must know whose consent or assistance is required for <strong>the</strong> conclusion<br />

of a valid antenuptial contract by a minor. This issue is discussed on pages<br />

91±92 of your prescribed textbook.<br />

4 THE CONTENTS OF THE ANTENUPTIAL CONTRACT<br />

After <strong>study</strong>ing <strong>the</strong> minor's antenuptial contract, you should <strong>study</strong> pages<br />

92±93 of <strong>the</strong> textbook where <strong>the</strong> contents of <strong>the</strong> antenuptial contract are<br />

discussed. There it is explained that any provision which is not contrary <strong>to</strong><br />

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