Israel: Spousal Agreements for Couples Not Belonging to Any Religion--A Civil Marriage Option?

The Law Library of Congress is proud to present a new report, Israel: Spousal Agreements for Couples Not Belonging to Any Religion--A Civil Marriage Option?.

Marriage and divorce in Israel are generally subject to the application of personal status laws of the parties involved. In the absence of a uniform law in these matters, Jewish Israelis who do not qualify under Jewish law or who do not wish to undergo religious ceremonies are trying to find alternative ways to marry and divorce. The Law on Spousal Agreements for Persons Without a Religion, 5770-2010 partially addressed the problems of couples where both spouses do not belong to any recognized religion. It did not, however, resolve the problems shared by couples where one spouse does belong to such a religion. It similarly did not offer a nonreligious alternative to those electing not to undergo religious ceremonies. Whereas some perceive the law as a positive step in regulating marriage and divorce in Israel, others view it as a step back, creating more dependence on religious courts and further dividing Israel's society not only along religious lines but even within religious groups. The law clearly does not provide a new civil law option to religiously recognized marriages.

Visit http://www.loc.gov/law/help/marriage/spousal-agreements-israel.php to read the entire report and visit http://blogs.loc.gov/law/2015/10/mazel-tov-i-now-pronounce-you-husband-and-wife-under-israeli-law/ to read the author's blog post about this report.

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