Divorce Navigator

Track the divorce journey from summons to finalisation. Settlement stays open at every stage, children-related issues are highlighted when relevant, and the system always shows the next permissible step.

View Case Flow Open Settlement Ask a Question

Case Health

Critical

Deadline risk, missing documents, and settlement readiness are shown here.

Current stage

Summons

Next step

Response / defence

Settlement

Open

Family Advocate

Pending

1. Summons and response

This is the entry point for a defended or undefended divorce matter. The system identifies the document, confirms the parties, and then moves to the response branch.

Documents recognized

Summons
Particulars of claim
Plea
Counterclaim
Reply

Response outcomes

Plea filed
Counterclaim filed
Reply required
No response yet

Summons opened Response tracking Deadline monitor

2. Settlement centre

Settlement can happen at any stage. This section stays open all the time and collects the core issues that usually decide whether the case can move to an unopposed track.

Matrimonial property system

In community / out of community / accrual

Assets

Property, vehicles, savings, investments

Pensions

Included / not included

Maintenance

Spousal and child maintenance

Minor children

Yes / No

Family Advocate approval

Pending / Approved

Settlement outcome rule If settlement is complete and children-related approval is complete where needed, the dashboard can mark the matter as settlement-ready and simplify hearing preparation.

3. Children / Family Advocate

This branch opens when minor children are involved. It tracks care, contact, guardianship, maintenance, and whether Family Advocate input is needed before finalisation.

Children issues to capture

Care / residence
Contact / access
Guardianship
School costs
Medical aid
Maintenance

Family Advocate status

Required: yes / no
Submission sent
Interview completed
Recommendation received
Approval marked complete

Important Where there are minor children and settlement touches their rights, the children branch should remain visible until the Family Advocate path is satisfied or the court can proceed lawfully.

4. Discovery and compliance

This branch tracks what has been exchanged, what is still missing, and whether any compliance steps need to be forced or updated.

Discovery items

Document request list
Documents received
Missing records
Affidavits outstanding
Compel required

Compliance warnings

Late response
Missing filing confirmation
Unstamped copy
Deadline close
Bundle incomplete

Risk alert If deadlines are missed or discovery is ignored, the case health meter should move to red and the next-step panel should prompt a compliance action.

5. Pre-trial and set-down readiness

Once pleadings and discovery are in order, the system switches to pre-trial, set-down, indexing, and hearing preparation.

Pre-trial outputs

Chronology
Issues in dispute
Settlement summary
Witness list
Missing document checklist

Set-down outputs

Notice of set-down
Index and pagination
Hearing bundle
Trial notes
Readiness score

Readiness logic The more complete the settlement and children branches are, the easier the hearing-prep and set-down path becomes.

6. Finalisation

This section closes the case when it is settled, ready for an unopposed hearing, or ready for defended finalisation.

Possible outcomes

Settled
Unopposed path
Defended hearing-ready
Post-order follow-up

Downloads

Settlement agreement
Parenting plan
Final order
Case summary

7. Questions panel

The user should be able to ask questions at any point, especially when the next step is procedural and time-sensitive.

What do I take to the registrar?

Use the latest served document, the case number, the party names, and any proof of filing or access request needed for that stage.

How do I know if the case is unopposed?

The system should only show this when there is no defence branch active and the settlement and children requirements are complete where relevant.

What if Family Advocate approval is missing?

The children branch should remain open, the health meter should warn the user, and the next-step panel should direct them to complete that path before finalisation.