The Gauteng directive: when financial disclosure is required

Gauteng Practice Directive 1 of 2024, footnote 18, requires an FDF under oath with supporting documentation in opposed divorce actions and Rule 43 matters where maintenance is in dispute. The documents are to be indexed and paginated. Check the applicable directive and any subsequent court instructions for the matter rather than assuming that every financial dispute follows the same process.

Rule 58 is a regional magistrates' court procedure, not a Gauteng High Court Rule 43 application under another number. The Regional Court Civil Practice Directives, paragraph 7.5.7, separately address opposed divorce actions where maintenance or proprietary relief is disputed and opposed Rule 58 applications where maintenance is disputed. The prescribed form and supporting records must be checked against that court's requirements.

For preparation, record the applicable court, the relevant exchange instructions and which financial records support each entry. Ask your attorney to confirm timing and filing requirements. This app helps organise information and generate disclosure PDFs; it does not calculate court deadlines or perform filing.

Each party prepares their own disclosure. Consistent categories can make review easier, but do not establish that every figure is agreed or correct. Financial disclosure can also be useful in mediation and in other circumstances where the particular form is not mandatory.