The Definitive Guide For Attorneys In South Africa
The Definitive Guide For Attorneys In South Africa
Jennifer Scholtz is a distinguished Family Law specialist, legal educator, and qualified mediator who brings over two decades of dedicated expertise to the matrimonial field. A 1992 graduate of the University of Cape Town, she completed her articles under the mentorship of a prominent Gauteng matrimonial attorney before being admitted to the profession in 1996. For the entirety of her career, Jennifer has focused exclusively on family law. Operating her boutique practice, Jennifer Scholtz Attorney, from a welcoming and comfortable office in Fourways, she provides highly personal and affordable legal services. Her professional ethos is deeply rooted in compassion and efficiency, always striving to 'serve u' while guiding clients through their most vulnerable life transitions.
As a recognised expert in her field, Jennifer’s daily practice covers the complete spectrum of relationship and family matters. She provides strategic counsel for both contested and uncontested divorces, maintenance disputes, and the drafting of robust separation and cohabitation agreements. Protecting children is at the core of her work, leading her to handle complex parental rights and responsibilities, relocation applications, and cases specifically championing the rights of unmarried fathers. Beyond relationship breakdowns, Jennifer assists clients in building and safeguarding their futures. This includes executing antenuptial contracts and wills, altering marital regimes, and navigating the sensitive legal frameworks surrounding surrogacy, adoption, foster care, and artificial insemination. Furthermore, she is highly adept at instituting urgent protection orders for domestic violence and bringing curatorship applications before the courts.
Understanding that aggressive litigation is not always the optimal path, Jennifer serves as a highly effective mediator. She advocates for constructive, cost-effective dispute resolution aimed at preserving familial dignity. Having undergone specialised training to properly involve children in the mediation process, she frequently collaborates with social workers and psychologists to secure child-focused outcomes. Her standing in the legal community is reflected by her strong working relationships with Families South Africa (FAMSA) and the Family Advocate, as well as the frequent pro bono support she lends to other law firms seeking her specialised insight.
Jennifer's impact extends far beyond the courtroom through her profound commitment to legal education. She spent nine years lecturing Family Law and Advanced Family Law at a premier South African university. Today, she shapes the next generation of practitioners by lecturing for the Gawie Le Roux Institute, LEAD schools across several provinces, and several of the country's Big 5 law firms. Her academic contributions include redrafting course material for LEAD, preparing Candidate Legal Practitioners for admission exams, hosting corporate workshops, and actively mentoring university students. A prominent thought leader, Jennifer is regularly invited to share her expertise on the radio and in podcasts, particularly concerning Rule 43 applications and fathers' rights. She has also edited two notable e-books: Surviving Articles and Danielle Hayward’s comprehensive divorce guide, I Did But I’m Done.
Outside of her demanding professional and academic schedules, Jennifer's heart remains with her own family. She is married and a mother to two young children. To unwind and find balance, she enjoys road and trail running, playing the piano, and immersing herself in a good book.
Attorney Profile last updated: 25 May 2026