Child Custody in Egypt — Clear Guidance for International Families

Overview — Child Custody in Egypt

Foreign and dual-nationality parents navigating child custody in Egypt often face different terminology, filing practice, and timelines than in their home jurisdictions. Egyptian Family Courts apply the child’s welfare as the guiding principle, yet the way evidence is presented and orders are enforced follows local procedural rules.

We support international families across the full spectrum of custody work in Egypt: first-time custody claims, modification of existing orders, visitation and handover arrangements, travel-ban issues, change-of-school requests, supervised visitation, and urgent temporary measures. Coordination is handled seamlessly with bilingual updates and clear next-step checklists.

At Anglo–Nile Legal Services, services are delivered locally through the lawyers the company cooperates with in Egypt and supported by certified translators in Cairo. Our company operates exclusively under Egyptian law and does not provide legal services under UK law. We take responsibility for fulfilling all agreed obligations to our clients.

If you reside abroad, we can draft a bilingual Power of Attorney (POA) tailored for use in Egypt and guide you on notarisation and legalisation requirements in your country of residence so that your case can proceed without you travelling.

Legal Requirements — Child Custody in Egypt

To open or defend a child custody case in Egypt, you will generally need the following. Our Cairo-based collaborators handle Arabic translations and court-compliant formatting before filing:

• Child’s official birth certificate (full version, showing parents).
• Marriage certificate and—if applicable—divorce decree or separation judgment.
• Valid passports or Egyptian national IDs for both parents (bio pages and residency pages where relevant).
• Proof of the child’s current residence and living conditions (housing contract, utility bills, or tenancy confirmations).
• Any prior court rulings on custody, visitation, relocation, or financial support—Egyptian or foreign—plus certified translations.
• Evidence of day-to-day caregiving: school enrolment and attendance reports, medical records, activity schedules, communications with the other parent, photos demonstrating routine and stability.
• If paternity/maternity is in issue: documents evidencing parentage and any prior acknowledgments or registrations.
• Contact details for witnesses (teachers, neighbours, caregivers) who can attest to the child’s routine and welfare.

Foreign documents normally require notarisation and legalisation (or apostille, depending on the country of origin) and Arabic translation for court use. We review authenticity and layout before submission to avoid adjournments.

If you are abroad, a bilingual POA is typically required so that the lawyers the company cooperates with in Egypt can file and attend hearings on your behalf. We provide exact wording accepted by Egyptian courts.

Who Has Custody — Child Custody in Egypt

Egyptian personal-status law recognises a custody priority order designed to protect the child’s emotional and physical welfare under court supervision. At the same time, the court’s overriding consideration is the best interests of the child, which may justify departures from the default order in specific circumstances.

Typical Custody Priority (day-to-day care):

• Mother
• Maternal grandmother
• Paternal grandmother
• Sisters
• Aunts (maternal first, then paternal)

The guardian (traditionally the father) manages the child’s legal and financial affairs—such as schooling, documentation, and significant medical decisions—while the custodian provides daily care and a stable environment. The court may issue temporary orders for custody, visitation schedules, handover arrangements, and travel restrictions or permissions while the case is ongoing.

In practice, the court examines factors like the child’s age, bond with each parent, continuity of schooling, health needs, distance between homes, and each parent’s conduct and availability. Where foreign orders exist, we can advise on the appropriate recognition and enforcement route in Egypt and how such orders may influence the Egyptian court’s assessment.

For international families, common scenarios include requests to travel with the child, objections to relocation, or applications to lift or impose a travel ban. We prepare targeted evidence packs (itineraries, invitations, accommodation proofs, return tickets, and communication logs) to address the court’s risk and welfare considerations.

Why Anglo–Nile for International Clients

• UK-registered legal services company — Company No: 16569632
• SRA Registered Foreign Lawyer (England & Wales) — RFL No: 7265297
• Cases conducted exclusively under Egyptian law via the lawyers the company cooperates with in Egypt — with bilingual updates and single-point-of-contact case management.
• End-to-end support: evidence strategy, Arabic translations, notarisation/legalisation guidance, court filing, and follow-through on orders.
• Stage-based, transparent fees with written scopes—no surprises. Urgent applications available where the facts justify interim relief.
• Practical guidance for expats on travel permissions, relocation objections, recognition of foreign orders where appropriate, and enforcement.
• Strict confidentiality, secure document handling, and clear timelines tailored to your circumstances.