Child support in Israel

The laws governing child support in Israel are based on the parent's religion. The father is always absolutely responsible for child support, "Mezonot", and Israeli women are exempt from paying child support, unless both parents are considered "without religion" at birth. In most divorces in Israel the parents are Jewish and therefore Jewish law, and not civil law, controls the dispute in both family courts and the rabbinical courts.

According to Jewish law, the father is the only parent responsible for child support. The women in Israel is always exempt from paying child support, and her income and assets are not a factor in awarding the child support in Israel. therefore, even when a father is awarded custody of the children, he is still liable to pay full child support to a former wife who does not even raise the children. In certain situations a non-custodian mother can also collect "hospitality fees", i.e. the father has to pay the mother for the costs of her visitations with the children.

According to Jewish law, child support is blind to the father's income. Usually it is a multiplication of the minimum allowance of 1,400 NIS per child, multiplied by the number of children, plus contribution to the mother's housing expenses ("Mador"), i.e. if the custodian mother is renting an apartment, the father must pay 30% of her rental expenses, plus 30% of utilities (electricity, phones, housing maintenance, etc) in case of 1 child, 40% for 2 children, and 50% for 3 children or more. The woman can choose any accommodation she wishes and just show a lease and receipts. If the woman owns an a[apartment, or lives free (for example with parents, friends, new lover or a Kibbutz) then the father must pay virtual housing expenses, as if she is renting an apartment at arm's length anywhere she wishes. This is called "Mador Raayoni".

In addition, the father must pay 50% of any kindergarten expenses, which could be up to 1,500 NIS per month per parent, babysitting expenses up to age 11, half of all extraordinary expenses of medical and dental, and summer vacation and two extracurricular classes per month at 150 NIS to 300 NIS during the school year.

The mother receives 100% of all governmental Children's allowances. New children are never a reason to reduce the child support allowance. Incarceration, hospitalization, medical paralysis are similarly not a reason to reduce child support.

Israel's child support levels are the highest the world, with Switzerland being second, and twice or three times higher than US and Europe, per OECD charts.

Both family courts and rabbinical courts are very hostile to men. The costs of fighting a child support case in court usually begin at 30,000 NIS. Usually, a contested child support case results automatically in am award of legal expenses to the wife, anywhere between 10,000 NIS to 60,000 NIS.

The payment of child support in Israel does not guaranty access to the children. in fact, the mother has a virtual veto right on whether to deny or withhold access or visitations with the children.

See also

• Basic Laws of Israel
• Israel National Council for the Child

External links

• Levush, Ruth (24 November 2007). "Israeli Law Guide". LLRX.com.
• Kadman, Yitzhak; Windman, Vered (1 April 2005). "A Free People in Our Land: Children's Rights in Israel". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Kadman, Yitzhak (19 April 1995). "THE LAW FOR THE PREVENTION OF THE ABUSE OF MINORS AND THE HELPLESS". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• "Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 25 May 2000.
• "THE ISRAEL NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE CHILD".