Procedure

No! Private reports cannot be submitted to the family court unless it has prior permission is sought and granted. This is explicitly stated in Israeli law and regulations. The parent can ask the court for permission to summon the expert to the proof stage hearing, and cross examine him/her on his report, in an attempt to undermine it and lessen its weight. The court is not bound to accept the expert's recommendations, although this is usually the case.

Not necessarily. For this to be so the mistake would have to be a vital factual one, which led to the wrong conclusion and wrong outcome in the case. Otherwise, the judgment will stand, despite a factual error in the judgment, as for example, in February 2011 ,the Central District Court stressed in an appeal case against a Rishon LeZion Family Court judgment refusing to grant probate for a will. The appeal court found that the family court held mistakenly held that the testator had “signed” the will with a thumbprint, when it actually bore a handwritten signature. However, it stated that despite this mistake, its conclusions , which were based on other facts and evidence, were still correct, and, accordingly, there was no reason to interfere with either its conclusions or the judgment.

Usually an appeal court does not interfere regarding factual findings, but concentrates on whether the court of first instance made a mistake on a point of law, or drew a wrong conclusion from the facts.

Not automatically if you want to fight it at the time - you can appeal, but only if you are granted permisson by the district (appeal )court after applying to do so within 30 days. Another option exists - to appeal against the temporary maintenance decision as part of an appeal against the  judgment at the end of the case.

Apply immediately to the family court for an ex-parte order to prevent the minor from leaving the country. Certain religious courts e.g. rabbinical court can also deal with such applications, but the family court will have jurisdiction over any child who is physically present in Israel, irrespective of his religion, or other status.

Take action under the Hague Convention for the return of an abducted child, as both Israel and the United States are signatories to and bound by the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction. Translated into practice, this means getting a plea filed in Hebrew, at a family court in Israel, for a return order regarding the child under the 1991 Israeli Hague Convention Act, which is the Israel legislation based on the convention.

One - by right, to the Greater Rabbinical Court.

Two - the first as of right, to the District Court, and if the appeal is rejected, permission can be asked from the Supreme Court, to file a further appeal, against the District Court's ruling.

You need to make an application to the judge to disqualify him/herself from dealing with your case. This can be made in writing, or orally, during a hearing. You need to prove a 'substantial risk of bias' against you, to the extent that you will not get a fair hearing. In practice, such applications are very difficult to prove, and are only successful in the most extreme cases.

If the judge refuses to disqualify him/herself you will have to decide whether to appeal against the decison to the President of the Supreme Court, or to back down and let him/her continue managing the case, and apepal against the final judgment, latter if the result is not to  your satisfaciton.

Forty five days .

Fifteen days from when you  'service' was performed (i.e. when you officially received it).