Divorce and Marriage Dissolution
Sigal Belenson-Shafran Law Office
A divorce process is not just the end of a relationship—it is a complex legal and emotional juncture where every decision may affect the rest of your life, the future of your children, and your financial situation. Along with the personal struggles, it is important to understand that this is a legal process with far-reaching implications, requiring professional, sensitive, and experienced guidance.
Authority, strategy and what's in between
In Israel, the exclusive authority for divorce is vested in the Rabbinical Court, but around this issue unfolds a whole system of related issues:
property, custody, alimony, balancing of resources, ketubah, and more.
Each of these issues can be resolved in the Rabbinical Court or in the Family Court , depending on how the procedure is conducted from the first stage.
Properly managing the question of jurisdiction—where the lawsuit will be filed and in what order—is a critical strategic move that can affect the entire legal outcome. An early, smart, and informed decision can shift the balance of power in your favor.
Properly managing the issue of jurisdiction—where the lawsuit will be heard and in what order—is one of the most important strategic steps in the divorce process .
As someone who has represented in complex cases for over two decades , I specialize in building a strategy tailored to each case , while weighing the legal , financial, and emotional aspects together .
Dissolution of civil marriage – between civil law and religious law
Even in the era of civil marriages outside the borders of Israel, Jewish couples who were married in a civil ceremony are recognized by rabbinical law as spouses for all intents and purposes, and therefore the dissolution of the relationship requires a legal divorce, as a condition for official recognition of the divorce in the State of Israel.
Despite religious law’s preference for marriage “according to the Law of Moses and Israel,” it recognizes civil marriage as an act that creates a bond, and therefore here in Israel a divorce will be required for severity. So even if a couple has already completed a civil separation abroad, from the perspective of the State of Israel they are still married until they receive a divorce.
Divorce in mixed couples – a Jew with a non-Jewish spouse
When at least one of the spouses is not Jewish, their civil marriage is dissolved in Israel in accordance with the Jurisdiction in Matters of Dissolution of Marriage (Special Cases) Law. In these cases, the Family Court has sole jurisdiction.
The court will first examine whether there is a competent religious court that can handle the parties’ divorce, and in certain cases it will request an opinion from the relevant court or refer the parties to obtain a get or a parallel procedure.
To the extent that there is no other religious or legal impediment, he will issue a ruling ordering the dissolution of the marriage.
Areas of interest and specialization
Over the years of my work, I have acquired a deep interest and practical understanding of the intersections between law, emotion, and man .
My areas of interest focus on where the dry law meets the complex human reality—and on my ability to decipher what lies behind the legal conflict.
The combination of these fields allows me to bring a broad and in-depth perspective to each case , identify what is not said, and create precise and sensitive solutions – which advance the client not only legally, but also humanly
