Normally, the courts in Israel award the non-custodial parent with two meetings with the children during the week, and visitation every other weekend. Usually, the weekend visits go from Friday afternoon until the end of the Sabbath, on Saturday evening. Although this usually includes a sleep-over (on Friday night), when a child is very young (i.e. under the age of two) the court may decide not to allow a sleep over until the child is older. Occasionally, the court may decide that the non-custodial parent may pick up the children from school on the Friday afternoon of the weekend visit, and return them directly to school on the Sunday morning following the weekend visit.
Additionally, the children will usually spend the holidays and Jewish festivals alternately with each parent. These will also generally include sleepovers.
During the summer vacation, the children will generally spend half of the summer holiday with each parent.
In rare situations, (e.g. if the court determines that it is not safe for the children to be in the non-custodial parent’s charge for even a short period – i.e. when the non-custodial parent is a drug-addict, or is a sexual deviant) then the court will arrange for visitation meetings to be set up at a special “communication centre” which are located at a number of locations throughout Israel.
You should always strive to come to a divorce agreement that address all of the visitation issues, and which the court will generally approve, and enter as a judgment.
