Changing a Child’s Name in Israel: Do You Need Court Approval?
Changing a child’s name in Israel is not always as simple as filling out a form at Misrad HaPnim (the Population and Immigration Authority). Whether parents can change their child’s name directly through Misrad HaPnim or must first obtain an order from the Family Court depends on what type of name is being changed, the […]
Shalom Bayit: Reconciliation with an Alternative Divorce Agreement Built In
When a marriage is in crisis, divorce is not always the immediate answer. Some couples consider separation or even start the divorce process, only to realize that they are not yet ready to give up on the marriage. They may still love one another, want to remain together for their children, or simply believe that […]
Can an Unapproved Marital Agreement Be Enforced in Israel?
After more than 20 years guiding English speakers through the Israeli family law system, one assumption I see catch people out again and again is this: that a marital agreement which was never approved by a court simply doesn’t count. It feels logical. You signed something informally, life moved on, and you assume it either […]
Organising Your Documents for Divorce in Israel: A Practical Guide
One of the least dramatic but most consequential things you can do when facing a divorce in Israel is get your paperwork in order. The party who arrives with organised, complete documentation is in a stronger position than the one scrambling to find things under pressure. I’ve seen negotiations derailed and settlements skewed because someone […]
Rabbinical Court vs. Rabbinate in Israel: What’s the Difference?
If you’re going through a divorce in Israel — or just trying to get married — you’ve probably heard both terms: the Rabbinate and the Rabbinical Court. Most people use them interchangeably. Most people are wrong. They are two completely different institutions that do completely different things, and confusing them can mean showing up at […]
Finding Hidden Assets in an Israeli Divorce: What You Can Do
You know something is off. The numbers your spouse is presenting don’t match the life you’ve been living. The business is suddenly worth half what it was. There’s money you know existed and can’t find. If you’re going through a divorce in Israel and suspect your spouse isn’t being straight about the finances, you’re not […]
Financial Agreements Made Abroad: Are They Valid in Israel?
You signed a financial agreement in another country before you moved to Israel — maybe a prenup, maybe a formal separation of finances. It was signed, witnessed, legally done. You assumed it would protect you wherever life took you. Now you’re facing divorce in Israel and you’re not so sure. As an Israeli family law […]
Using AI for a Divorce Agreement in Israel: Get It Checked
You and your spouse have agreed on the basics. You type the details into an AI tool, and out comes something that reads like a real divorce agreement. It looks finished. In Israel, that is exactly where the trouble starts. I have taken hundreds of Israeli divorces through the courts, and the draft that reads […]
How Divorce Ends in Israel: Agreements, Court and the Get
You’ve been going through the process for weeks or months, and the question you keep returning to is: how does this actually end? What does it look like when a divorce in Israel is finally over? The answer is more specific — and more layered — than most people expect, particularly for couples navigating the […]
The Evolution of Same-Sex Marriage Recognition in Israel
In the landmark 2006 Supreme Court case, Ben-Ari v. Director of Population Administration (Bagatz 3045/05), the Court issued a decision that significantly changed the landscape of civil marriage recognition in Israel. Generally speaking, civil marriage is not available in Israel. Because there is no complete separation of religion and state, marriage and divorce are governed […]