His Highness Crown Prince approves Guidebook to Regulate Personal Status Affairs.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, has passed a resolution on the adoption of a guidebook to regulate substantive and procedural regulations on Personal Status Affairs, with the objective of expediting the completion of Personal Status lawsuits due to the private nature of such cases and their impact on families. The resolution will ensure effective, appropriate and decisive procedures are taken on disputes to achieve effective and full justice for all family members. Meanwhile, proceedings of Personal Status lawsuits shall be unified starting from the Family Guidance stage through the lawsuit preparation stage, sentencing and finally execution. Moreover, estimations for alimonies will be standardized and custody and child visitation shall be regulated.

His Excellency Chancellor Ahmed Mohammed Al Khatri, Chairman of RAK Courts Department, said that the adoption of the new guidebook serves to enhance regulation of personal status matters. Furthermore, it serves developing a specific operational mechanism in line with Islamic Sharia Law and applicable federal and local laws besides standardizing personal status lawsuits procedures; facilitating litigation procedures; addressing challenges arising throughout proceedings and handling difficulties, if any.

H.E added: “This guidebook is a gateway to answering all questions and inquiries and establish all rules and terms related to family guidance and personal status simply and easily, so as to enable the concerned parties of dispute to access information faster.”

“The close follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, to the Emirate’s judicial system; launching a series of successful initiatives and projects for the sake of development and innovation and adopting best international practices in the judicial sector ensured faster pace in different kinds of lawsuits, especially personal status lawsuits and promoting courts to attain the highest possible levels. Furthermore, resolution passed by His Highness on personal status contributes to maintaining coherence and protection for families and delivers a positive effect on society,” H.E. added.

The guidebook covers family guidance, family disputes arising from, procedures of filing and preparing the lawsuit, documents necessary to expedite proceedings, adjudication, inheritance and attestation materials, types of expenses, alimonies and controls of estimation, and a set of regulations on all kinds of divorcing.

In addition, the guidebook covers disputes arising from custody and visitation rights, orders on petitions of personal status affairs, execution and procedures of judgments rendered in personal status lawsuits, indicative schedules to estimate alimonies and duration of child visitation.