Ketubah Amount Rules Are Changing in Israel — What Every Couple Should Know Before Their Wedding
If you’re planning a Jewish wedding in Israel, you’re probably familiar with the ketubah (כתובה, k’tubah): the document signed at the wedding ceremony that records, among other things, a financial commitment from the husband to the wife. The ketubah is read aloud under the chuppah as part of the festive occasion, and for many couples […]
You’ve Known for a While. So Why Are You Still Waiting? Contemplating Divorce in Israel
There’s a conversation I have regularly with people considering divorce in Israel that follows a pattern I’ve learned to recognize before it’s barely begun. They’re sitting across from me — sometimes in the office, sometimes on a call — and somewhere in the first ten minutes they say a version of the same thing: “I […]
Marriage, Money & Peace of Mind: The Postnuptial Agreement in Israel
You didn’t sign a prenup. Maybe it didn’t feel necessary. Maybe the conversation never happened. Maybe you were focused on the wedding, the move to Israel, the new life you were building together — and a financial agreement felt like planning for failure rather than planning for the future. But time passes. Things change. A […]
Get Refusal in Israel: What Agunah, Agun, and Moredet Mean
If you are reading this, there is a good chance you already know what it feels like to be stuck. You want the divorce to move forward. Your spouse does not — or will not give or accept the Get. And no matter what you do, the process seems to go nowhere. You are not […]
“My Son Cut Us Off — and Took Our Grandchildren With Him.” Do Grandparents Have Any Rights in Israel?
The call usually sounds the same. A woman in her late sixties. Composed for the first two minutes, then not. Her son stopped speaking to her a year and a half ago. Sometimes there was an argument at a wedding. Sometimes a comment about the daughter-in-law. Sometimes nobody can point to a single moment at […]
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 […]