Israeli Court Orders Investigation Into Husband’s Alleged Asset Transfer Through His Mother
An Israeli district court in Lod overturned a family court decision that dismissed a woman’s claim that her husband transferred joint assets worth millions of shekels to his mother’s name. The district court ruled that her allegations require a full investigation and sent the case back to the family court in Rishon Lezion for further proceedings.
The woman alleges that three key properties, a villa, a business, and land in the Sharon region, were purchased with joint funds but registered under the husband’s mother to shield them from division. The couple married in 2005, have children, and have been undergoing divorce proceedings in the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court since 2018, which also covers property matters.
In September 2024, they signed a document outlining agreements on child custody, the family home, and other property issues. While the transfer of the family home to the woman was approved and executed, disputes remain over the document’s validity regarding other assets. The husband and his mother claim the document is a binding settlement covering all property disputes, while the woman argues only parts were approved and the rest remain unresolved.
The family court initially dismissed her claim, citing the Rabbinical Court’s jurisdiction over property matters and the signed agreement. However, on appeal, the district court emphasized that dismissing the claim without evidence was premature and that the Rabbinical Court cannot rule on assets registered to a third party (the mother). The court ordered examination of the September 2024 document’s scope and whether it prevents the woman from challenging ownership of the mother-registered assets.
The husband and his mother were ordered to pay the woman 10,000 shekels in legal fees. The woman’s attorney, Avi Gefen, stated the ruling clarifies that property disputes involving assets registered to third parties must be fully investigated within divorce proceedings to prevent asset concealment.
