Hadhanah (the right of custody of a child after divorce)

Hadhanah is the right to care for and raise a child after the parents divorce. The law gives priority to the mother, followed by other close relatives if she is not entitled or available.

A common case: a mother holds hadhanah of her five-year-old daughter, and that right continues until the child reaches a set age unless the court decides otherwise.

A mother’s hadhanah right normally ends at a set age, but can be extended on application, and the child’s welfare always remains the court’s main concern.

Read who gets custody for the age limits and full conditions.