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
    Chief Compliance Officer
    Georges Touma
    Head Litigator
    Hanan Ahmed
    Practicing Lawyer
    Lathamani Chandrashekar
    Senior Corporate Counsel
    Arka Navle
    Corporate Counsel
    Nashita Nazneen
    Junior Corporate Counsel
    Mark Engelman
    Intellectual Property Barrister
    Rita Semaan
    Legal Consultant
    Carlos Rahme
    Senior Legal Consultant
    Souhad Al Ghorayeb
    Senior Legal Consultant
    Sandy Geagea
    Legal Consultant
    Saeed Gaber
    Legal Research Analyst
    Muhammed Ali Charif
    Junior Legal Counsel
    Jenifer Abu Nasr
    Paralegal
    Patricia Abi Mansour
    Business Development Manager
    Varalakshmi Balasubramanian
    Operations Assistant
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