Q: Hi, I am Indonesian and my husband is French and we got married in Indonesia under Sharia Law. We reside in Dubai with our 3-year old daughter. As we decide to separate, I found out that my husband already has a girlfriend. We agreed to divorce and we drafted an agreement by ourselves, but I feel the amount of child support and maintenance fee is not fair. Before I sign it, I want to ask, is there any specific calculation for child support and wife alimony in Sharia Law? My husband also threatened to take my daughter away from me if I mention anything about his adultery. What is the best and fairest way for me to have my right as a woman, wife, and mother and to also protect my daughter’s wellbeing from her irresponsible father?

Q: I would like to open a trustee with my wife and sign a postnuptial agreement.

Q: I filed a divorce case and already attended the 1st reconciliation. My husband agreed to divorce but can't get any mutual agreement. I want to know if I can kick him out of the house. I am paying the rent and the tenancy contract is under my name. I am paying all the bills (he doesn't pay anything), meaning I am the provider since we got married (2 yrs). Since I filed for divorce, I don't want to live with him anymore. I asked him to move out but he doesn't want to (He is unemployed). He is not letting me work when he needs to go and look for a job as no one will take care of our son (either me or him), and my job is at risk because of him. He is also hiding my car keys so that I will not leave. He already locked us up when I wanted to attend a friend's birthday. He locked us (me & my son) when I did something he didn't like. He left & left the key outside so I can't get out of the house. Will I be in trouble if I kick him out? Take his things out. Or since he doesn't want to move out, I & my son will go.

Q: Dear sir/madam, Are postnuptial agreements between Hindu couples enforceable in Dubai? Are they litigated as Civil lawsuits or as Personal Status lawsuits (Article 62 of Personal Status law talks about the division of family home after divorce)? Will Hindu laws apply or Shariah? For example, if there is a clause in the postnuptial agreement stating that the wife will pay a portion of the child's education costs and this is acceptable according to Hindu Maintenance Law, but conflicts with Shariah law, what will a Dubai judge do? Please help. Thank you!

An interview-format article covering the topic of contracts in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

An interview-format article covering the topic of payment orders in the UAE. This is from the legal podcast of lawyer Ludmila Yamalova, the founder of Lawgical with LYLAW.

على مدى العامين الماضيين، أصبحت أوامر الدفع شائعة جدًا في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة. تتناول هذه المقالة كيف ومتى يمكن لأحد الأطراف التقدم بطلب للحصول على أمر دفع وكيف تتعامل محاكم دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة مع مثل هذا الطلب عندما يبرم الطرفان اتفاقية تحكيم.

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.