Episode 124: Protecting Your Finances in Marriage: Why Women Need to Know the Law Before Saying ’I Do’

In this episode of the Money Magic podcast, Vangile Makwakwa sits down with Tebello Motshwane, an attorney specializing in family law with a focus on marriage. Tebello is also the founder of a platform called Sister-in-law, which is a platform dedicated to empowering women through legal education.

 

Tebello emphasizes the importance of understanding marriage contracts and financial arrangements before marriage. She highlights the dangers of being married in community of property in South Africa, which can lead to shared liabilities and financial complications, advising instead to consider marriage out of community of property with or without accrual.

 

 

She stresses the importance of having an anti-nuptial contract to protect individual financial assets and liabilities.

 

Tebello also explains that couples should openly discuss finances, including debts, monthly commitments, and financial goals before marrying.

 

She explains that In South Africa, customary marriages, even without registration at Home Affairs, are legally binding. Proper legal procedures should be followed to dissolve such marriages to avoid future complications.

 

Tebello also advises being financially and emotionally prepared for the possibility of divorce, highlighting the importance of minimizing litigation costs and being aware of the emotional and financial impacts of transitioning from a dual-income to a single-income household.

 

This is another insightful episode.

Tune in!

 

During this episode, you will learn about:

 

[02:19] – Vangile welcomes listeners

[03:42] - Introduction to Tebello Motshwane

[05:02] – Tebello’s background and mission

[07:30] – Tebello explains how she started Sister-in-law

[10:21] - Discussion on financial aspects of marriage

[14:00] - Questions to ask about finances before marriage

[19:05] - Differences between marriage regimes

[22:08] - Risks of being married in community of property

[27:32] - Cultural perceptions of marriage contracts

[33:02] - Legal implications of lobola

[37:17] - Legal dissolution of customary marriage

[41:06] - Clarification on unregistered customary marriages

[43:37] - Deal breakers in marriage discussions

[46:36] - Financial preparation for divorce

[49:19] - Removing shame from divorce processes

[51:07] - Insights on approaching marriage

[52:13 – Final words from Tebello

Contact Tebello:

https://www.instagram.com/sister_in_law_/

https://web.facebook.com/sisterinlawsa

sisterinlaw.co.za

 

 Notable Quotes

 

 

1. "It is so important to understand that who you marry is as important as how you get married because that affects your finances."
2. "I want to educate Black women on the importance of understanding how the law exists to serve them."
3. "When you're in a relationship, you should speak about money as often as possible because everything that you do as a couple requires money."
4. "Some of the conversations that couples should be having, first and foremost, is what are your monthly commitments?"
5. "If you're married in community of property, the bank is coming to take the house, they're not going to ask whose name it's in."
6. "When women are financially and legally empowered, it's actually society that benefits as a whole."

 

Additional money trauma resources:

 

One on One Coaching: https://www.wealthy-money.com/coaching 

Money Magic course: https://www.wealthy-money.com/moneymagic 

7 Day Tapping into Ancestral Money Wisdom Training: https://wealthy-money.com/training

Let’s connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vangilemakwakwa/