A Family Court in Israel recently ruled in a child support case, with a central issue being whether the reserve duty allowances the father received for his service during war should be considered part of his income for the purpose of calculating child support.
The couple, who had been married for about five years before separating, share custody of their daughter, who will turn six in two months. In the lawsuit, the mother argued that the father’s reserve duty allowances, amounting to about 3,500 NIS per month, should be included as part of his monthly income for child support calculations. She also noted that she is the primary caregiver for their daughter, while the father spent considerable time in reserve duty, earning higher income during that period.
The father, on the other hand, argued that the reserve duty allowances were not part of his regular income, and that his net salary stands at approximately 12,740 NIS.
The Judge of the Family Court rejected the mother’s argument, explaining that the reserve duty allowances are intended as compensation for the loss of income and to assist those serving in covering costs related to the impact of the war.
In the end, the judge ruled that the father would be required to pay 2,580 NIS per month in child support until the child turns six, after which the amount would be reduced to 1,100 NIS.
