Guardianship and parental rights

We help families protect the rights and welfare of children through sound legal guidance on guardianship, custody, and parental authority under UAE law.

Practice Overview

Legal guardianship and parental rights are essential pillars of family law, especially when addressing the care, custody, and upbringing of children. At Kayrouz & Associates, we guide parents, relatives, and legal representatives through the legal frameworks that govern guardianship in the UAE and broader Middle East.

Our lawyers assist in establishing guardianship arrangements that reflect the best interests of the child, whether through mutual agreement or court proceedings. We advise on both physical custody (day-to-day care) and legal custody (decision-making authority), and help resolve disputes where parents disagree on key issues such as education, travel, or healthcare.

We are particularly experienced in complex guardianship matters, including those involving incapacitated parents, inheritance planning, or international families. Our team ensures that any arrangement complies with Sharia principles where applicable and is recognised by the appropriate legal and governmental bodies.

We offer legal advice on a wide spectrum of matters:

  • Drafting guardianship petitions and court filings
  • Advising on joint or sole parental authority
  • Resolving custody disputes between parents or relatives
  • Advising on guardianship for minors in estate or immigration matters
  • Representing clients in guardianship transfer or termination cases
  • Cross-border coordination for international guardianship recognition
  • Meet Our Team

    Our team is equipped to handle complex legal matters with precision and care. Learn more about our lawyers below.

    Pierre Kayrouz

    Chief Legal Officer
    Maria Valeyeva

    Maria Valeyeva

    Chief Compliance Officer
    Georges Touma

    Georges Touma

    Head Litigator
    Hanan Ahmed Al Balushi

    Hanan Ahmed

    Practicing Lawyer
    Lathamani Chandrashekar

    Lathamani Chandrashekar

    Senior Corporate Counsel
    Arka Navle

    Arka Navle

    Corporate Counsel
    Nashita Nazneen

    Nashita Nazneen

    Junior Corporate Counsel
    Professor Mark Engelman

    Mark Engelman

    Intellectual Property Barrister
    Rita Semaan

    Rita Semaan

    Legal Consultant
    Carlos Rahme

    Carlos Rahme

    Senior Legal Consultant
    Souhad Al Ghorayeb

    Souhad Al Ghorayeb

    Senior Legal Consultant
    Sandy Y. Geagea

    Sandy Geagea

    Legal Consultant
    Saeed Gaber

    Saeed Gaber

    Legal Research Analyst
    Muhammed Ali Charif

    Muhammed Ali Charif

    Junior Legal Counsel
    Jenifer Abu Nasr

    Jenifer Abu Nasr

    Paralegal
    Patricia Abi Mansour

    Patricia Abi Mansour

    Business Development Manager
    Valakshmi Balasubramanian

    Varalakshmi Balasubramanian

    Operations Assistant
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