Sheilah Lena Dhliwayo v. Stanley Tatenda Dakwa

1 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 2 COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO 3 UNIFIED FAMILY COURT 4

5) 6 SHEILAH LENA DHLIWAYO,) Case Number: FDI-26-802468) 7 Petitioner) Hearing Date: May 14, 2026) 8 VS.) Hearing Time: 9:00 AM) 9 STANLEY TATENDA DAKWA,) Department: 403) 10 Respondent) Presiding: BOBBY P. LUNA) 11) 12 REQUEST FOR ORDER RE: SPOUSAL OR PARTNER SUPPORT 13 TENTATIVE RULING 14 The parties are ordered to appear. The parties may appear in person in Dept. 403 or remotely by 15 Zoom video. If a party chooses to appear by video, that party must abide by the Notice and 16 Instructions for Remote Appearances in San Francisco Family Court set forth above. 17 A.

Procedural History 18 1) The parties are Petitioner Sheilah Lena Dhliwayo and Respondent Stanley Tatenda Dakwa. 19 2) On 1/21/26, Petitioner filed a Petition for Dissolution indicating the date of marriage is 9/4/24 and 20 date of separation in 10/17/25 for a marriage of 1 year and 2 months in duration. 21 3) On 2/25/26, Respondent filed a Response and Request for Dissolution indicating the date of 22 marriage 9/4/24 and date of separation is 12/15/25 for a marriage of 1 year and 3 months in 23 duration. 24 4) On 3/13/26, Respondent filed a Request for Order seeking $2,174 in temporary spousal support. 25 Respondent asserts that he is an F2 dependent Visa holder who cannot earn an income in the 26 United States pursuant to federal immigration regulations.

Respondent further asserts that 27 Petitioner is the F1 primary Vias holder, so she is responsible for Respondent’s basic living 28 expenses (i.e., $2,174 per month). Respondent states that he moved to the United States on 29 10/21/24 to support Petitioner earning a master’s degree. The Court notes Respondent previously

1 filed an Income and Expense Declaration on 2/25/26, indicating he earns $0 and estimates 2 Petitioner earns $5,000 monthly. Respondent lists $3,000 in savings and $2,174 in average 3 monthly expenses. 4 5) On 5/1/26, Petitioner filed a Responsive Declaration in opposition to Respondent’s Request for 5 Order. Petitioner asserts she does not have sufficient funds available to pay support as she earns 6 irregular monthly income through independent consulting work (approximately $3,600 monthly) 7 and her monthly obligations total approximately $2,500.

Additionally, Petitioner works an unpaid 8 internship for her master’s degree program. Petitioner alleges Respondent is self-supporting as he 9 has continuously been able to meet his living expenses without support from Petitioner. Petitioner 10 attaches as Exhibit C a bank of America Statement showing incoming Zelle payments, other 11 deposits, and transfers. 12 6) On 5/1/26, Petitioner filed an Income and Expense Declaration indicating she earns $3,000 - 13 $3,600 in average monthly self-employment income, has $0 in savings, and pays $2,990 in 14 average monthly expenses. 15 B.