Family Law

Pre-marital (prenuptial) and post-marital agreements: legal agreements to protect assets, define responsibilities, and reduce future disputes. Advising on legal requirements for marriage, documentation, registration, and formalities under UAE law and applicable personal status laws. Support for cross-religion or interfaith marriages: navigating legal compatibility, religious consent, and jurisdiction issues. Legal advice during marital conflicts — mediation options, negotiation, and conflict prevention strategies.

Guidance on grounds for divorce, legal steps, and consequences under UAE personal status law. Advice on mutually agreed separation, no-fault divorce, or contested divorce planning. Settlement planning: dividing assets, liabilities, and financial support. Legal consultation on ancillary matters such as spousal maintenance (alimony) or compensation.

Custody (physical care), guardianship (decision-making), visitation (access) — bespoke frameworks that reflect the child’s welfare and family dynamics. Advice on changes in custody, relocation, or modification of existing arrangements. Parental rights enforcement and protection: ensuring each parent’s legal standing, rights, and responsibilities. Coordination with institutions, education authorities, and cross-border guardianship as needed.

Structuring fair and enforceable child support schemes aligned with UAE personal status law and the child’s needs. Calculation of spousal support/alimony — when applicable, period, amounts, adjustment mechanisms. Enforcement or renegotiation of support orders and variation requests. Ensuring secure financial arrangements during separation or divorce periods.

Identification and classification of marital vs non-marital property, financial holdings, personal assets, and debts. Drafting equitable division, with consideration of UAE property laws, free zone rules, and overseas assets. Negotiation and documentation of financial settlement agreements, ensuring enforceability. Support in structuring compensation claims, buy-outs, or lump-sum arrangements.

Creating wills and succession planning aligned with UAE laws and client wishes (Sharia, civil, or hybrid regimes). Advice on inheritance rights, distribution, and legacy management. Resolving family disputes over inheritance distribution, contested wills, and estate claims. Cross-jurisdiction planning for foreign assets and relative jurisdictions.

Advice and support for victims of domestic abuse — protection measures, restraining orders, risk mitigation. Assistance in safe exit strategies, relocation, and securing legal rights in abusive environments. Counseling on evidence collection, documentation, and legal safeguards in sensitive family contexts.

Mediation, negotiation, and amicable settlement frameworks as preferred alternatives to adversarial resolution. Structuring settlement proposals, drafting agreements, and facilitating communication. Conflict prevention tools — preemptive legal frameworks, communication plans, and family agreements. Guidance on enforcement of mediated agreements and settlement compliance.

Legal support when one parent seeks to relocate (with minor children) within UAE or across borders. Handling objections, modification requests, relocation impact on custody and visitation. Addressing parental alienation claims, interference, and securing children’s relationship stability. Expert advice on cross-jurisdiction enforcement of custody or access decisions.

Handling mixed-jurisdiction marriages, divorces under dual legal systems, or foreign judgment recognition. Advice on enforcement of foreign family law orders (custody, support, divorce) in UAE context. International child abduction and Hague Convention support (where applicable). Foreign spouse rights, exit strategies, and alignment with bilateral treaties and UAE law.