{"id":5964,"date":"2025-07-06T11:15:47","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T11:15:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=5964"},"modified":"2025-07-06T11:15:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T11:15:58","slug":"hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Hierarchy in Family Court and the Process to Appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Can_a_Family_Court_Decision_Be_Appealed\"><\/span>How Can a Family Court Decision Be Appealed?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although it is easy to obtain information regarding family laws in the UAE, people are generally unaware about the procedural aspects of the family court process. In this article, we will look at the court procedures once a decision is issued by the Court of First Instance in the UAE.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#How_Can_a_Family_Court_Decision_Be_Appealed\" >How Can a Family Court Decision Be Appealed?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#Hierarchy_of_Court\" >Hierarchy of Court<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#The_Court_of_First_Instance\" >The Court of First Instance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#What_is_the_Process_of_Appeal_in_Family_Cases_in_the_UAE\" >What is the Process of Appeal in Family Cases in the UAE?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#Court_of_Appeal\" >Court of Appeal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#Court_of_Cassation\" >Court of Cassation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#Possible_Outcomes_of_Appeal\" >Possible Outcomes of Appeal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/hierarchy-in-family-court-and-the-process-to-appeal\/#When_Does_a_Judgement_Become_Final\" >When Does a Judgement Become Final?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hierarchy_of_Court\"><\/span>Hierarchy of Court<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The UAE has three levels in its judiciary comprising of the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Court of First Instance<\/li>\n<li>The Court of Appeal<\/li>\n<li>The Court of Cassation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The UAE judiciary allows a three-tier litigation system where a judgement can be appealed twice, to ensure that all aspects of an issue are addressed adequately.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Court_of_First_Instance\"><\/span>The Court of First Instance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In family cases, a dispute\u2014whether regarding divorce, inheritance, or other family matters\u2014is initially brought before the Court of First Instance, commonly known as the Personal Status Court.<\/p>\n<p>This Court has the authority to understand the facts and evaluate the documents and evidence presented in the case and to derive what it deems consistent with the reality of the case and its merits without being subject to review by the Court of Cassation, as long as its ruling is based on valid reasons with a foundation in the papers sufficient to support it (as established in Dubai Court of Cassation Appeal No. 104 of 2018 &#8211; Personal Status).<\/p>\n<p>After the judgement is issued by the Court of First Instance, the case can be appealed before the Court of Appeal.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_Process_of_Appeal_in_Family_Cases_in_the_UAE\"><\/span>What is the Process of Appeal in Family Cases in the UAE?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once a judgement is issued by the Court of First Instance, either party to the case can appeal the judgement if they are dissatisfied with the whole or part of the judgement issued.<\/p>\n<p>As per Article 161 of the Federal Decree Law No. 42 of 2022 on the promulgation of the Civil Procedure Law, an appeal to the judgement must be filed within 30 days of the issuance of the judgement.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Court_of_Appeal\"><\/span>Court of Appeal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Court of Appeal reviews decisions issued by the Court of First Instance. In case both parties have appealed the decision, the two appeals will be combined to hear and issue judgement.<\/p>\n<p>Both the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal are categorized as trial courts and have the power to examine the facts and evidence of the case. The Court of Appeal can re-examine the facts and evidence on the request of the parties, if the court deems it necessary.<\/p>\n<p>It is legally established, according to the settled jurisprudence of the Dubai Court of Cassation Appeal No. 104 of 2018 &#8211; Personal Status, that the Appeal Court is not obligated to respond to every non-legal inference challenged by the parties, nor to follow them in all their lines of defense and various arguments and reasons, nor to respond to each of them or to the documents they submitted independently, as long as the truth it is convinced of and its evidence provide an implicit response negating all that is contrary to it.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the Court of Appeal can uphold the appealed decision and this ruling is considered sufficiently reasoned if the court adopts the reasons of the First Instance Court ruling that it upholds, provided that those reasons sufficiently justify the appealed decision.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Court_of_Cassation\"><\/span>Court of Cassation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If either or both parties to the case disagree with the judgement issued by the Court of Appeal, and if the appeal is based on a violation of the law or an error in its application or interpretation, the parties may appeal the decision before the Court of Cassation.<\/p>\n<p>As per Article 9 of the Federal Decree Law No. 41 of 2024 regarding Personal Status Law, such appeal must be filed within 30 days of the issuance of the judgement.<\/p>\n<p>An appeal by way of cassation is essentially an objection against the ruling being appealed. Therefore, it is necessary that the arguments against an appealed ruling are directed at a specific defect upon which the appealed ruling is founded. If the appealed ruling lacks such a defect, the arguments posed by the appealing party may not be accepted.<\/p>\n<p>The Court of Cassation does not re-examine factual matters as they fall within the discretionary power of the trial courts and outside the scope of scrutiny of the Court of Cassation.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Possible_Outcomes_of_Appeal\"><\/span>Possible Outcomes of Appeal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If a judgment is appealed, what are the possible outcomes that can be expected?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Appeal Court may completely or partially quash and decide on the merits of the case.<\/li>\n<li>It may dismiss the appeal after confirming the decision of the lower court.<\/li>\n<li>In some cases, it may also return the case to the lower court for retrial.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_Does_a_Judgement_Become_Final\"><\/span>When Does a Judgement Become Final?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A judgement by the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal will become final on the expiry of the time period within which the judgement can be appealed. The judgments of the Court of Cassation are considered final.<\/p>\n<p><b>Reference:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>https:\/\/www.professionallawyer.me\/legal-articles\/family-law\/filing-for-divorce-here-is-the-checklist<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 of this article is retained by the author and\/or other copyright owners. We explicitly grant you permission to download a copy, without any alteration, of this article for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or any charge. This article can be utilized on your website or for marketing, however, we grant you permission to host this article on your website and no other rights. This content should not be altered in any way or sold commercially in any format without prior permission of the copyright holder. During reference of this article, full biographic details entailing the name of the author, his designation, the institute and the publishing date of the article shall be provided.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Can a Family Court Decision Be Appealed? Although it is easy to obtain information regarding family laws in the UAE, people are generally unaware about the procedural aspects of the family court process. In this article, we will look at the court procedures once a decision is issued by the Court of First Instance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[394],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5964","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-uae-laws"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5964\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}