ASK THE LAW – Al Shaiba Advocates & Legal Consultants, having a dedicated family law department, provides complete legal support to individuals and families in divorce cases, child custody cases, maintenance disputes, guardianship, marriage-related matters, family settlements, asset distribution, and all other personal status disputes.
Our Family Lawyers in Dubai assist UAE nationals, expatriates, Muslim and non-Muslim clients. We assist them by providing family law legal advice, representation in court cases, reviewing documents, and negotiating settlements. We represent our clients before all the competent courts in Dubai and across the Dubai.
It is quite important to note that family disputes require careful assessments because the applicable law can depend on multiple factors. These factors are nationality, religion, residence, and marital status, the location of the marriage, prenuptials and more. Our family lawyers in Dubai provide complete legal advice and valuable information regarding this.
UAE Family Law and Personal Status Matters
The current federal law is Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024, which is on the Issuance of the Personal Status Law. Its covers all UAE citizens and residents, including Muslims and Non-Muslims, including foreign nationals, who are allowed to choose specific choice-of-law provisions. For Non-Muslims, Federal Law No. 41 of 2022 on Civil Personal Status provides a separate and complete civil framework, which covers the matters such as civil marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance, and parentage. The legislation applies to non-Muslim UAE residents within its statutory scope and applicable laws.
Our Family Law Services in Dubai
Our legal team assists clients with family matters at different stages, from preliminary legal advice and settlement discussions to Family Conciliation and court proceedings.
Divorce and Separation
Divorce cases in UAE can involve more than ending a marriage. It means it is depending on the circumstances, where related issues like child custody, visitation, alimony, maintenance, asset distribution, travel with children, and enforcement of existing agreements can be part of a divorce case.
Our divorce lawyers in Dubai having expertise in divorce and separation; review the marriage documents, and applicable laws, and any existing settlement terms before advising on the appropriate procedure.
Where an amicable solution is possible, we help them to find an amicable settlement with an amicable divorce. If the settlement is not reached, then dispute proceeds to court, and we represent our clients in the competent court. For non-Muslim residents in the UAE, falling within Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2022, the law grants them a special provision by providing them a divorce by unilateral will without requiring the spouse permission or consent, it is established as No-Fault or harm.
Family Law in the UAE should not be assumed that the one law is automatically applied to everyone. Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 tells us about the rules for UAE citizens, Muslims, Non-Muslims, and expats living in UAE. Expats living in UAE, are given choice-of-law considerations, but depending on the circumstances and the legislation. Our professional family lawyers help the clients to understand about this law and its permissions.
Related Services
Child Custody and Visitation in Dubai
Child custody disputes are not the ordinary matters and considers most sensitive family matters among all the family matters. The court considers the betterment of the child and requirements governing the child custody, rather than treating it as a dispute between parents. UAE courts pay a lot of attention towards the welfare and better living of children.
Under the current Personal Status Law, a child who reaches 15 years of age may choose to reside with either parent, unless the court considers another arrangement to be in the child’s interests. Custody generally ends when the child reaches 18 Gregorian years, subject to specific circumstances provided by law. If there is any confusion regarding this law, our child custody lawyers in Dubai can be proved very useful.
Child custody laws recognise visitation rights for the other partner as well, who does not keep the custody. For non-Muslim family’s joint and equal custody, options are also available. Subject to the court’s assessment and the child’s best interests.
Child Maintenance and Family Financial Claims
Child maintenance and family financial claims disputes can arise during marriage or after divorce. The current Personal Status Law contains provisions for maintenance between spouses, maintenance for children, as well as between qualifying relatives. The current Personal Status Law contains provisions governing maintenance between spouses, maintenance for children, and maintenance between qualifying relatives.
For child maintenance claims under the 2024 Personal Status Law, the legislation states that a claim against the father for a previous period generally cannot extend beyond one year before the date of the judicial claim.
Family financial disputes can involve monthly maintenance, accommodation, schooling, medical expenses, custody-related costs, arrears, and enforcement of existing maintenance judgments or settlements. Our team of lawyers review available evidence before advising on the appropriate position.
Family Settlements and Amicable Resolution
Dubai Courts provides a Family Conciliation service for family disputes settlement. The process can result in conciliation or referral to the competent court. Our lawyers provide practical solutions to all the parties. We draft the settlement agreements and manage the amicable divorce, if do not become contested.
- Civil Personal Status regime have different procedural rules. For example, divorce claims under Federal Law # 41 of 2022 are exempted from referral to Family Guidance. It can proceed directly to court.
Our Valuable Services
We provide our clients with a detailed, valuable & comprehensive assessment of the case. We are competent enough to deal with marriage-related matters as per every religion and custom. Mediation and amicable settlements are our first priority for divorce matters, separation, & Child Custody. However, if the matter is not resolved mutually on amicable grounds, then we provide great value to legal services. We provide end-to-end legal support across:
Experienced Lawyers For Mediation
ASK THE LAW is the online legal platform of Al Shaiba Advocates & Legal Consultants, an Emirati-owned law firm based in Business Bay, Dubai.
Our legal team assists individuals and families with personal status disputes, family settlements and court proceedings. The firm is chaired by Advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Hassan Al Shaiba, who has also contributed legal commentary and answers on UAE law through Gulf News.
Our approach begins by identifying the applicable law and jurisdiction, reviewing the available documents and understanding what the client is seeking to achieve. Where an amicable solution is appropriate, settlement options can be explored. Where court proceedings are required, our lawyers can advise on the procedural and legal steps available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Speak With Our Family Lawyers in Dubai
Family disputes can involve significant personal, financial and child-related consequences. If you require legal advice concerning divorce, child custody, maintenance, family settlements or another personal status matter, you can Book a legal consultation with our Family Lawyers in Dubai at Al Shaiba Advocates & Legal Consultants. We have one of the best team of family lawyers, practicing for more than 20 years.