International Divorce & Family Law: Egypt
Historically Egyptian family law and divorce has tended to favour and protect the economic and social status of husbands at the expense of wives. To a degree this is still the case but the system is changing and widespread reform of the law has been proposed. We are international family lawyers and assist Egyptian nationals who reside in the UK and UK nationals in Egypt, who are seeking divorce. Initially we help clarify where the best place for you to divorce if you have a connection to both Egypt and the UK.
How To Divorce In Egypt
Changes to the divorce laws in Egypt mentioned above are also motivated by a desire on the government’s part to stem the rapidly rising divorce rate. In 2019 the government indicated that it is looking at how alterations to divorce law in other Muslim countries such as Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates have helped dramatically reduce the rate of divorce.
Husbands in Egypt can divorce their wives orally (‘talaq’). Currently pressure to remove this as a method of divorce is being resisted by religious leaders.
Wives in Egypt can petition for divorce but must clearly demonstrate that one of several legally stipulated reasons (fault) is present in the marriage. These include mental illness, lack of financial support, imprisonment and mental or physical abuse.
A wife may obtain a no-fault divorce (without proving any of the factors referred to above). But this can have a severe impact on her ability to obtain maintenance and other financial relief.
Children And Egyptian Divorce
Following divorce mothers are generally granted custody of children under 15 (although there are calls to reduce this age to nine) but women will be disqualified from custody if they remarry. If a woman remarries custody will pass to other blood relatives. There is evidence to suggest that this acts as a significant disincentive to divorcees in Egypt to remarry.
Egypt is not a Hague Convention signatory meaning it can prove difficult to enforce foreign custody orders in the country
Advice On Egyptian Divorce
If you have connections to both the UK and Egypt courts in both countries may have the ability to decide your divorce settlement and issues around any children. We represent Egyptian women and men resident in the UK who need advice about divorce and whether they should attempt to divorce through the courts of England and Wales or through the Egyptian family courts. Similarly we act for UK nationals in Egypt who may need guidance on how to approach divorce proceedings.
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