Law of Persons seventh edition has become a standard text on the South African law of persons. The book was first published in 1995, just after the dawn of South Africa’s first democratic dispensation. The book constitutes a general and fully referenced source on the law of persons and reflects the transformation of the law of persons in line with the values entrenched in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, with specific reference to the Bill of Rights.

Key Features

• Its systematic approach and comprehensive overview make it suitable as a textbook.
• Clear and concise explanations of legal concepts
• Interactive self-test questions instantly validate learning.
• Video lectures provide further context.
• Audio glossaries promote an understanding of commonly used terms and concepts.
• Visual aids such as diagrams and infographics illustrate important concepts and map processes at a glance.
• Case study application questions teach students how to apply their knowledge.
• Online support material is available on Juta Passmasters for lecturers and students.

About the Author

Trynie Boezaart is Professor Emeritus at the University of Pretoria, founder of the Centre for Child Law at the University of Pretoria, Director of the Centre for Child Law until 2008, and an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa. She has served as an Acting Judge in the High Court and was the Head of the Department of Private Law at the University of Pretoria for more than eight years. She enjoys international recognition for research in child law and the law of persons, has lectured extensively in the law of persons for more than three decades, and has published widely on numerous aspects of the law of persons and related fields.

• Definition of Concepts
  • Introduction
  • Law of persons
  • Legal subjects
  • Legal subjectivity
  • Status
  • Law of persons and justice
  • Law of persons and the Constitution
• Beginning of Legal Subjectivity
  • Introduction
  • Birth
  • Protection of the unborn’s interests
  • Birth control
  • Registration of births
• • Domicile
  • Meaning of domicile
  • Relevance of domicile
  • Kinds of domicile
  • Succession of domicile
  • Problem cases
  • Standard of proof
  • Provision of transition
• Effect of Age on Status
  • Effect of different ages on status
  • Classification of persons according to age
  • Children’s rights
  • Infans
  • Minor
  • Termination of minority
• Children Born of Unmarried Parents
  • Introduction
  • Categories of children born of unmarried parents
  • Status of children conceived by artificial fertilisation
  • Proof of parentage
  • Legal relationship between a child and his or her unmarried parents
  • Changing the status of a child of unmarried parents
• Diverse Factors which Influence Status
  • Introduction
  • Mental illness
  • Physical disability or illness
  • Economically founded impediments
  • Drunkenness and drug addiction
  • Appointment of curators
• Termination of Legal Subjectivity
  • Determination of the moment of death 
  • Commorientes
  • Proof of death
  • Presumption of death
  • Procedure in case of death
  • Violation of a dead body and grave
• Bibliography
• Table of Cases
• Table of Statutes

Lecturers and students