Q: I am a divorced father who lives in Ireland. My minor son (11) lives with his mother in Israel. our divorce agreement signed abroad did not address my visitation rights in Israel. My ex-wife does not agree to my son visiting me abroad and when I come to Israel to visit him, she does not allow me to see him under various pretexts. Even when I manage to see my son in Israel, my ex-wife doesn’t let me go out with him, and barely lets us be alone together, watching us all the time from the corner of the living room, and constantly interrupting us. She also stays in my son’s room, during our Zoom calls. What can I do?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 06 November, 2025A: You must file for temporary and permanent visitation with your minor son in Israel and abroad at the Family Court in Israel (where the child resides), including virtual communication, and request an order for the mother not to be present at your conversations. You can also ask the court to authorize an expert (social worker/clinical psychologist etc.) to prepare a written report and submit recommendations on the matter. In general, the court recognizes the importance and right of a child to maintain a meaningful relationship with both of his parents, for his emotional stability and well-being.