My husband and I are Jewish and want to divorce. I work outside the home. My husband agrees that I should have custody of our 12 year old son and 16 year old daughter. Will I have to contribute towards supporting the children or will only my husband have to support them?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 13 May, 2022Until minor children are 15 Jewish law places the obligation of supporting minors solely on the father. From the age of 15 onwards the obligation derives from ‘Charity’. This does not mean it is voluntarily, although it sounds like it. It is a legally binding obligation but it is shared between both the parents, depending on their relative incomes. Whoever earns more will contribute more and vice versa.
Thus both you and the father will share the maintenance burden of the child who is over 15 but the father alone will have to support the child below the age of 15.