Court Sets Divorce Date to March 2025, Citing Financial Moves

A family court judge in Israel has ruled that a couple's marriage officially ended on March 4, 2025, a date chosen after considering financial actions taken by the wife. The ruling by Judge Hila Ohayon Gliksman of the Family Affairs Court in Tel Aviv determines the cutoff for dividing marital assets.

The husband argued the marriage dissolved on March 4, 2025, the day he filed a second request for conflict resolution. The wife contended the separation occurred later, on August 2, 2025, after a final reconciliation attempt. She cited ongoing marital counseling, affectionate messages from her husband in May 2025, and a trip to Paris.

However, the judge found evidence supporting the earlier date. The wife's own lawsuit stated the husband was in "complete disconnect" from her after their return from Paris on February 28, 2025. She testified in November 2025 that she realized the marriage was over upon returning from Paris, observing the situation at home and understanding prior issues. Four days after their return, the husband contacted his lawyer.

Further supporting the March date was the wife's financial activity in April 2025. She opened a separate bank account and transferred approximately NIS 200,000 (about $54,000 USD) from her social benefits to her mother without informing her husband. The judge interpreted this action as the wife understanding "that the die was cast on the parties' marriage."

Despite the wife's claims of continued reconciliation efforts, including a draft divorce agreement in May 2025 that discussed only asset division and alimony, the judge noted the husband's continued financial support of the household was responsible behavior towards their four children, not a sign of ongoing partnership. The judge also pointed out the wife's inconsistent claims regarding the separation date and her own claim for spousal support starting in March 2025.

The next step involves appointing an expert to value assets, businesses, goodwill, and earning disparities as of March 4, 2025. This date is crucial under Israel's Spouses' Property Relations Act, as assets accumulated before this date are subject to division, while those acquired afterward belong solely to the individual who earned them. The husband, the primary breadwinner, benefits from an earlier date, while the wife stands to gain from a later one.