Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am a Filipino national who's been working here in the UAE for almost 4 years now. I would just like to ask if it's possible to seek or file support for my children under the UAE laws against my husband who has been failing since ever with fulfilling his obligations to my children [ages 20 & 15]. Last May, I came to know that he officially submitted his resignation. I have learned also that he got a new job offer in Abu Dhabi. I sought assistance early last year from the Philippines Consulate. They advised me to file a case in the Philippines against him as I cannot file it with them due to restrictions in the jurisdiction. In the same year, I forwarded my concern to our office as we are of the same management but assistance wasn't fully accorded. I am certain that he will continue to escape his obligations especially now that I am no longer on hold of his whereabouts. Appreciate if you can give me advice on further actions I can take on this matter. Thank you, O. S. D. P.

Q: My husband refuses to provide maintenance for wife and child. Is there any organisation in Dubai/UAE that helps to enforce maintenance payments to spouse and child?

Q: Assalamu Alaykum. Please advise me. My daughter turned 13 and I know my custody already ended. Her father did not support her financially for the last 8 years. He rejected all of the help I asked. Can he file for the custody of my daughter in Dubai Court? Is there any time frame for him to file? Will the court give my daughter to him? Thank you!

Q: I have been divorced for two years now. My ex-husband has been hesitating to pay child support in the past two months saying that he has no money. I would like to raise a claim for this but I would like to know what the consequences will be after the claim has gone through. What does the UAE family law say? Also, I am worried that he might run out of the country, can I apply for a travel ban on him? Please advise!

Q: I opened a custody case. I asked for proof of custody, house, and alimony. I added a lawyer to the case, who submitted the last memo asking for everything for me except the alimony for the child. The judge did not rule on alimony. He does not mention the alimony request in the verdict. Is it true that the judge considers only the requests mentioned in the last memo?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, What are the charges to open an execution file in Sharjah for a divorce case and how much time will it take to execute the court order? My husband told the court that he does not have money to pay for me and my daughter's expenses because he is earning a minimum amount in which he can only survive. In that case, what can I do? He closed all his bank accounts and sent money to his parents in India. He also told me that he will show in court that he does not have a job or money, so the court or police cannot do anything to him. Can you please guide me on what I can do in this case? I do not have any proof of his salary or bank account because he was not informing me about anything related to his financial matters. In fact, he was forcing me to ask my parents to send money to us. Because of no proof, the court agreed with him and rejected my appeal. I do not have a job and I am struggling for basic expenses. Can I request the court to inquire about his gratuity and end of service? Or can the court ask him to submit proof of the money that he received from his company, as he was working for 30 years in the same company?

UAE Personal Status Law (also known as Personal Affairs Law) governs marriage, divorce, inheritance and other personal affairs in the United Arab Emirates. The law equally applies to citizens of the UAE and non-citizens unless one of them asks for the application of his home country law.