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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Assist people with family law matters 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
123218  Assist people with family law matters 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Legal Education and Training 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Justice in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will enable court based learners to gain the knowledge and skills to provide members of the public with accurate and user-friendly information pertaining to their family law matters, support the establishment of informed and accessible family law services in the justice system and the resolution of family disputes in South Africa.

Learners credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Assist people to identify their family law problems.
  • Examine the service formalities in family law matters.
  • Provide information on family law processes.
  • Analyse the legal implications of a family court order. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Communication skills NQF Level 4. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The range in this unit standard covers interaction between court-based service providers and members of the public with family law matters. The forms of assistance include analysing and diagnosing the family law matter, identifying feasible legal courses of action and empowering court users with the knowledge they need to pursue their action. Family law matters are confined to the legal areas of maintenance, domestic violence, divorce and child care. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Assist people to identify their family law problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Court users' circumstances are examined in order to extract information pertaining to their family law matter. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Information in family law matters are ranked and classified in terms of importance and relevance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Family law problems are diagnosed using available information. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Information in family law matters is analysed in order to establish whether important information may be missing. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The legal situation pertaining to their family disputes or problems is explained in order to inform court users. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Examine the service formalities in family law matters. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Service process formalities must cover the legal areas of maintenance, domestic violence, child care and divorce. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Factual family law matters are analysed in order to identify key points regarding service to inform court users. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Formalities which need to be complied with before the issuance of service documents are explained in the context of South African law. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Methods of service of documents to parties are explained in the context of family law. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Service documents are processed in order to facilitate the attendance of parties at family law matters. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Consequences of service documents not being served successfully are analysed in the context of family law enquiries. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Responsibilities of role players in the delivery of service documents is analysed in the context of family law. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Role players must include sheriffs, maintenance investigators and police officers.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Provide information on family law processes. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Family law processes must include maintenance, divorce, domestic violence and child care. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Steps involved in family law processes are compared in order to inform court users. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The importance of legal documents is analysed in the context of family law matters. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Options pertaining to legal representation and mediation are examined in the context of family law matters. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Responsibilities of role-players involved in family law processes are analysed in the context of a given case study. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Role-players must include the Family Advocate, Sheriffs, Magistrates, Administrative Clerks, Maintenance Officers, Maintenance Investigators, Prosecutors, Social Workers, Police Officers and Legal Representatives.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Prescribed time limits applicable to parties in family law matters are explained in order to inform court users. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Analyse the legal implications of a family court order. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Family court orders and the kinds of information it contains is explained in order to inform court users. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Factual court orders are analysed in order to assist court users to understand the contents. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Legal terminology used in family court orders is identified in order to explain these terms to court users. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Actions which constitute non-compliance with a family court order are analysed in order to inform court users. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Legal steps available for court users to enforce their family court orders are analysed in the context of a given case study. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this Unit Standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this Unit Standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this Unit Standard or assessing this Unit Standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA or with an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The identification of family law problems.
  • The service formalities in family law matters.
  • Information on family law processes.
  • The legal implications of a court order. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to analyse and diagnose family law problems and to assist members of the public to identify legal actions. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to work effectively as a member of the family court service delivery team. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to organise and manage the effective exchange of information in family law matters. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to collect and analyse information in family law matters so as to facilitate the effective resolution of disputes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Learners have acquired the generic ability to communicate legal concepts and procedures relating to family law to court users. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Terminology:
  • For the purposes of this unit standard, 'court-based family law practice' and 'family law-related matters' are understood to include the legal areas of maintenance, domestic violence, divorce and children's court matters at a lower court level.
  • For the purposes of this unit standard, 'court based staff' and 'court based learners' are understood to refer to administrative clerks working in the area of divorce at a lower court level. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  50265   National Certificate: Family Law Practice  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Department Of Justice (head Office) 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.