Mother Recovers 380,000 Shekels Loan from Son and Ex-Wife

A family court has ruled that a mother must be repaid 380,000 shekels that she loaned to her son and his now ex-wife for a down payment on an apartment and other expenses. The court ordered the son and his former wife to jointly repay the sum.

The mother had provided two loans: 200,000 shekels for the apartment's down payment and 180,000 shekels for bank loan repayments and financial assistance. She claimed the loans were to be repaid upon the couple's separation or divorce.

Following the couple's split, the mother demanded the money back. While the son acknowledged the debt, his ex-wife contested the claims. She argued the 200,000 shekel loan was already repaid in cash through monthly installments and that the second sum was a gift, not a loan. She also alleged the lawsuit was filed in bad faith to pressure her during the divorce proceedings.

The judge found the ex-wife's claims questionable, noting she did not know the mother's address despite allegedly visiting her and making payments. The court concluded the funds were indeed loans with repayment triggered by the couple's separation.

In addition to the principal sum, the ex-wife was ordered to pay 2,500 shekels in court costs and approximately 35,000 shekels for the mother's legal fees. The ex-wife's lawyer stated that while his client was obligated to repay half the loan, the lawsuit was unnecessary, and the final sum differed from the initial claim. The mother's lawyer emphasized the importance of formal agreements even within families, highlighting that despite the ex-wife's denial, the mother successfully proved the funds were loans, supported by various handwritten documents.