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<p>I am a single mother of a young child born outside of Israel. The father is an Israeli citizen living in Israel. Can I sue him for child maintenance in Israel even though the child lives with me abroad ?</p>

Yes, in principle – providing the issue of paternity is not in dispute,and the law of the country where the child lives obliges the father  to support his child. If the father is registered on the foreign birth certificate this will be sufficient to prove paternity. If not you will have to prove paternity,either by genetic testing ordered by the family court in Israel, where proceedings would be held, or, as an exception,on the basis of other documentary evidence,such as letters and pictures.

While you can bring the action in Israel, the Family Law Amendment (Maintenance) Act of 1959, which obliges Israeli residents/citizens to support their minor children, specifically states that where the child lives abroad, this obligation will depend on the law of the country where the child lives, and you will need to prove this by means of expert evidence.