Child’s Interests Paramount

An interesting family law case coming down from the Abu Dhabi Supreme Court:

From The National: 

ABU DHABI // The interests of a child must be paramount in decisions on custody disputes between divorced parents, the Federal Supreme Court has ruled.

The ruling is the latest in a number of decisions by the country’s highest court that experts say will influence the continuing reform of the family law system, under way since 2005.

Under current law, a divorced mother’s custody ends when a boy turns 11 and a girl turns 13. Judges can also follow the Islamic school of thought adopted by the UAE, Al Maliki, under which custody may be extended until a boy reaches puberty or a girl is married.

However, the Federal Supreme Court has now ruled that a court should look into the interests of the child before deciding on custody, regardless of the child’s age.

Read more here.

MR