Reading Time: 2 minutes

Partner Content: A Family Behind Every File

Debt review is at the heart of VDH Attorneys Incorporated because we believe in what it can achieve for families.

Every application concerns people working towards greater financial stability, with consequences for their households and their future.

As we celebrate twenty years in practice and 100 000 debt review court applications, we are proud of the firm we have built and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to that process alongside our debt-counsellor clients.

‘As we celebrate twenty years in practice and 100 000 debt review court applications, we are proud of the firm we have built’

Stephan and Fransie van der Hoven instilled both a knowledge of procedure and a belief in what debt review could achieve. They encouraged those joining VDH to question, to reason and to understand the purpose behind the process. Their enthusiasm helped many discover a passion for debt review. That commitment has shaped how VDH works, how knowledge is shared and how the firm approaches litigation.

That approach found practical expression in the 2015 VDH Declaratory Order, which addressed questions about court attendance, supporting documents and service of debt review applications. It was VDH’s contribution to a framework shaped by many participants, reflecting a conviction that recurring legal difficulties deserve considered answers.

Today, that commitment to debt review litigation is shared by fifteen admitted attorneys and two candidate attorneys across three offices. We take pride in the knowledge they contribute to the firm and the industry, and in seeing the founders’ passion carried forward through their work.

At VDH, we enjoy the discipline of litigation: examining the evidence, testing an interpretation and presenting a reasoned argument. Its purpose extends beyond the courtroom to the people whose financial futures are affected by the outcome.

Working across courts on a national scale has deepened our understanding of both the established principles and the questions that continue to arise in debt review. Court practices differ, and applying a judgment to new circumstances can call for further consideration. Our experience shapes how we prepare applications, assess objections and decide whether a difficulty is best addressed through constructive engagement or further legal steps.

This milestone reflects the relationships that have sustained VDH. We are particularly grateful to the debt counsellors who have entrusted their matters to the firm. We thank the National Credit Regulator, payment distribution agents, credit providers and courts for their contributions to debt review. The questions and arguments raised by banks and their legal teams have encouraged us to examine the law more closely and refine our approach.

This extraordinary milestone gives us much to celebrate: the trust of our debt-counsellor clients, the commitment of our team and the opportunity to contribute to the debt counselling industry.

At VDH, debt review litigation is the work we love.