Family Law & Divorce
Divorce in Israel, step by step.The full picture before you decide.English-speaking divorce lawyer in Tel Aviv
A divorce in Israel is two things. One is ending the marriage itself: for a Jewish couple, by a get in the Rabbinical Court. The other is everything around it: the children, support, the home and property. What surrounds it can be settled by agreement, and that is often the shorter and less painful route.
On a first call I hear where you stand, and explain the routes and the next step, in English.
A 15-minute call, by phone or video, directly with me. Booked in an online calendar, no account needed.
Where it starts
When spouses disagree, proceedings today usually start with a request to settle the dispute. Preliminary MAHUT meetings (information, introduction and coordination) follow at the court's assistance unit. For a limited period, claims on the same matter are not filed, except urgent ones, so that agreement can be explored.
These meetings do not commit you to agree to anything. They are a chance to consider mediation or negotiation before deciding on proceedings.
The divorce agreement
A divorce agreement settles in one document what needs to be settled:
- Parental responsibility and parenting time (custody): where the children live, and when they are with each parent.
- Child support, and sometimes spousal support.
- The family home: who stays, who leaves, and what the other receives.
- Dividing property, savings and pension rights.
- The timing of the get, for a Jewish couple.
An agreement approved by the Family Court or the Rabbinical Court has the force of a judgment.
The Family Court or the Rabbinical Court
For a Jewish couple, only the Rabbinical Court grants the get itself. On some of the questions around it, such as property and spousal support, both courts may have jurisdiction, and it can depend on who applies first and what the application includes. It is a decision worth taking after advice, before anything is filed.
The children
Decisions about children are made according to their best interests. A detailed arrangement sets where they live, when they are with each parent, and holidays and vacations. Child support depends on the children's needs, both parents' incomes and parenting time, as explained in the article on child support.
Property
For most couples married since 1974, the Spouses (Property Relations) Law applies: what was built up during the marriage is shared, including pension rights. What each of you had before the marriage, and inheritances and gifts, usually stay out of the division. The details are in the article on dividing assets.
By agreement or in court
When there is something to agree on, mediation or negotiation often reaches an agreement in less time and at lower cost than litigation. When there is violence, hidden assets or a need for an urgent order, court proceedings are the right route, and I handle them myself.
Questions
01How long does a divorce take?
Mostly it depends on whether there is agreement. With an agreement, the process is much shorter than a contested case. On a first call we can estimate what to expect in your case.
02Does each spouse need their own lawyer?
With a divorce agreement each side may, and usually should, take advice from their own lawyer. When I act as a mediator, I represent neither side.
03We married abroad. Can we divorce in Israel?
Often yes, depending on residence, religion and where the marriage took place. This is one of the first things to check on a call, before choosing a route.
Representation that understands you.
It can start with a conversation.
A short first call to understand where you stand and what your options are. Confidential, with no obligation.
A 15-minute call, by phone or video, directly with me. Booked in an online calendar, no account needed.