Divorces to Be Preceded by Mediation, New Law Says

Couples who wish to divorce will first have to go through a mediation process. The process will involve four meetings with counselors and Rabbanim within a period of 45 days, after which, if a solution is not found, divorce papers will be processed by the Rabbinate.

The law, which goes into effect Sunday, was authored by MK Merav Michaeli, who believes that it will lower the incidence of divorce. “Disputes will thus be resolved before legal proceedings occur. The discussions will be private, and will focus on the issues between couples, as well as how to avoid disputes that could be painful to children and families.”

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said that the new law “will be a worthy alternative to legal disputes that can get complicated. Similar laws in other countries have shown that it is possible for couples to work out issues and disputes before raising them in legal channels. This law will benefit all citizens, and ease the burden on the legal system.”