Q: Hi, I’ve been married for 7 years with two beautiful children and we are expats living in Dubai (British). We decided to get divorced and I wanted to understand my rights in regards to the family name as she’s in media and uses my children as pawns on social media sites. She also puts up pictures that I don’t want to be associated with my family for legal reasons (alcohol-related as she doesn’t have a license and hosts paid media events illegally). Can I force her to change her surname? Do I have any rights over what pictures of my children are put up on media platforms? Do I have any rights over my family name relating to social media? Thank you

Q: Good day, I am a South African citizen married to a Romanian citizen under the Romanian law. [We were married in the Romanian embassy in Qatar and issued a Romanian marriage certificate.] We are residents of the UAE since 2006. Each of us has worked under own company sponsorship. Our marriage has now come to an end. I wish to have the divorce proceedings taking place here in the UAE although I am certain that my wife wishes to have it done in Romania. We have assets both in Abu Dhabi and Romania. Two properties each in both countries fully paid off. Will it be possible to start the divorce proceedings from my side here in the UAE (Abu Dhabi) even if she is unwilling to do so? Many thanks, Marius Strydom

Q: Hi, I am currently negotiating a divorce with my wife who is a Russian National. We got married in 2013 in Moscow ZAGs (Registry). I would like to know more about the division of assets upon divorce and what the correct procedures are, as I am in a deadlock with her negotiating. We bought a property in the UAE and both contributed equally towards the down payment. However, moving forward, all mortgage payments were made by me. I am trying to make an agreed settlement with my wife, however, she is asking more than what I feel is fair and equal. If I was to sell the property we would both end up with less. In fact, she will end up with significantly less than what I am offering her. I would like to speak to someone with regards to the divorce proceedings and what the correct procedure is.

Q: My boyfriend and I want to marry in the UAE and we are dating for 9 years. We know each other but he is a UAE citizen. He is like after nikah they will ask us questions. I want to know what questions will they ask us in the court to find out if our relationship is illegitimate.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, My partner and I are non-Muslim expatriates who want to apply for a civil marriage in Dubai. I'm looking for a lawyer to draft a prenuptial agreement to submit along with the marriage application in Dubai. Should the agreement be attested and legalized before it can be filed with the marriage application?

Q: Hello, I would like to know if, to get married in Dubai, I could carry out my prenuptial assessment in France and have it accepted.

In accordance with the UAE Law of Personal Status, marriage is a legal contract between two people (man and a woman), focusing on protecting the rights of married people and their children. This contract requires certain conditions to be achieved before it becomes valid.

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

The goal of conducting a covert asset inquiry is to discover and recognize assets such as real estate, funds, shares, etc. that have been hidden by one individual from another. Typical situations where conducting a covert asset investigation might be necessary include divorce. Many times spouses try to conceal assets to impact property division or the amounts given in monthly alimony or child support during divorce proceedings.

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.