The New Personal Status Law Bill in Egypt | Abdel Rahim Hashem

1. Introduction

The new Personal Status Law Bill in Egypt is one of the major legislative issues concerning Egyptian families. The proposed legislation addresses a wide range of matters related to marriage, divorce, alimony, child custody, visitation, child access, parentage, educational guardianship, and other family-related matters.

During 2026, the legislative file witnessed several developments, including the government's submission of its bill to the House of Representatives, alongside other proposals and bills introduced by different parties. Egypt's Minister of Parliamentary Affairs confirmed that the government's bill is currently before Parliament and has not been withdrawn.

It is important to clarify that a bill is not the same as an enforceable law. Current legal rules remain applicable to existing cases until a new law is formally enacted, published, and enters into force.

This article explains the main topics addressed by the proposed Personal Status Law and what families should know before relying on information circulating about the bill.

2. Abdel Rahim Hashem Law Office

🏛️ Main Office in El-Santa

📍 El-Santa Center, Gharbia Governorate
Next to El-Santa Partial Court
Above El-Shaarawy Laboratory

📞 01092331557

🕘 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

🏘️ Meet Haway Office

📍 Meet Haway Village, El-Santa Center
Gharbia Governorate
In front of Meet Haway Youth Center

📞 01092331557

3. What Is the New Personal Status Law Bill?

The Personal Status Law Bill is a legislative proposal intended to reorganize a wide range of legal rules concerning family matters.

The government's 2026 bill addresses personal status matters involving marriage, termination of marriage, parentage, missing persons, children, maintenance, personal guardianship, financial guardianship, and related issues.

At the same time, other bills and proposals were submitted by members of Parliament and political parties, meaning that the final legislative text may change following parliamentary discussions and amendments.

4. Has the New Personal Status Law Already Been Enacted?

As of the preparation of this article, it is important to distinguish between the Personal Status Law Bill and an enforceable law.

The government's bill was submitted to the House of Representatives and remains part of the legislative process. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs also confirmed in May 2026 that the bill remains before Parliament and has not been withdrawn.

Therefore, provisions circulating online should not automatically be treated as binding legal rules.

5. Main Topics Covered by the Bill

The proposed legislation addresses numerous family-law matters, including:

• Marriage.
• Termination of marriage.
• Divorce, judicial divorce, and dissolution.
• Waiting periods and reconciliation.
• Parentage.
• Missing persons.
• Child custody and children's affairs.
• Maintenance.
• Visitation and child access.
• Financial guardianship.
• Guardianship and legal restrictions.
• Certain procedures and penalties related to family matters.

The government's circulated version organizes these subjects into multiple sections and chapters.

6. What Does the Bill Propose Regarding Child Custody?

Child custody is one of the most closely discussed topics in the proposed legislation.

Several proposals introduced during 2026 addressed custody age, custody order, and mechanisms intended to take the child's best interests into account. However, different bills have contained different approaches, and a proposal should not be treated as the final enforceable rule.

Current rules remain applicable to ongoing legal proceedings until a new law is formally enacted and becomes effective.

7. What Are “Child Access” and “Accompanying” Arrangements?

One of the issues attracting attention is the proposed regulation of the relationship between a child and the non-custodial parent through arrangements that may go beyond traditional visitation.

The government's circulated bill includes a system referred to as child access, allowing the non-custodial parent to accompany the child and have overnight stays under conditions set by the proposed legislation. It also addresses electronic visitation.

These provisions remain legislative proposals until the final text is enacted and enters into force.

8. What Does the Bill Say About Alimony?

The government's bill addresses spousal and child maintenance and other forms of financial support.

Among the provisions reported from the bill is a rule concerning the wife's entitlement to maintenance from the date of a valid marriage contract under the conditions specified in the proposal, even if the wife has sufficient financial means.

These provisions, however, remain part of a legislative bill and should not be treated as newly enforceable rules until the final law is enacted and becomes effective.

9. Educational Guardianship

Educational guardianship is another issue directly connected with children's interests and their educational arrangements following disputes between parents.

The proposed legislation addresses aspects of guardianship over children and includes provisions concerning the custodial parent and educational matters. The final details, however, depend on the parliamentary discussions and the officially adopted version.

Families should therefore rely on the law currently in force when determining their legal position rather than social-media posts about proposed amendments.

10. Does the Bill Address Parentage?

The proposed legislation includes provisions concerning parentage. The circulated version also refers to establishing parentage through scientific methods under the conditions specified in the bill.

These provisions remain subject to legislative review and possible amendment before any final text is enacted.

11. Financial Guardianship and Trusteeship

The proposed Personal Status Law is not limited to marriage, divorce, and custody. It also includes a section addressing financial guardianship.

The government's version addresses guardianship, trusteeship, legal restrictions, judicial assistance, absence, and other general provisions.

This gives the proposed legislation a broader scope covering multiple legal aspects of family relationships.

12. Does the Bill Introduce New Penalties?

The bill contains proposed penalties for certain matters, including provisions concerning child marriage below the legal age and certain violations involving the implementation of decisions related to children.

However, these penalties should not be treated as enforceable rules before the legislative process is completed and the law is officially issued.

13. Why Should the Bill Be Followed Through Official Sources?

The large amount of information circulating about the new Personal Status Law can create confusion between:

• The government's bill.
• Bills submitted by members of Parliament.
• Party proposals.
• Amendments introduced during parliamentary discussions.
• The final enacted law.
• The law currently in force.

Several bills and proposals have already appeared during 2026. Therefore, presenting a provision from one proposal as a final legal rule can lead to inaccurate legal information.

14. What Should Someone With a Current Family Case Do?

If you currently have a case involving divorce, maintenance, custody, visitation, or another personal status matter, you should not postpone legal action simply because a new law is expected.

The case should be examined according to the law currently in force when the legal action is taken, while monitoring whether future legislative changes may affect the legal position or procedure.

A legal consultation based on the specific facts of the case can therefore be important.

15. Frequently Asked Questions

Has the new Personal Status Law already been enacted?
As of the preparation of this article, the government's proposal remains part of the legislative process rather than being an enforceable new law. The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs confirmed that the bill remains before Parliament.

Has visitation been abolished under the proposed law?
The government's bill includes provisions concerning child access and electronic visitation, but it should not be described as a final abolition or replacement of visitation until the final law is enacted and becomes effective.

Has the custody order already changed?
Different proposals have addressed custody in different ways, but provisions in a bill should not be treated as current enforceable rules before the final legislation takes effect.

Will alimony rules change?
The government bill contains proposed provisions concerning maintenance, but their application depends on the final enacted text and its effective date.

Can the final text of the law be known now?
Any circulated version should not automatically be considered final unless it is officially enacted and published through the proper legal procedures.

16. Contact Abdel Rahim Hashem

Personal status matters require careful legal review, particularly while the proposed legislation is still being discussed and multiple proposals exist in this field.

You can contact Abdel Rahim Hashem to discuss your legal position and obtain advice based on the facts of your case and the law applicable at the time of the legal action.

🏛️ Main Office in El-Santa

📍 El-Santa Center, Gharbia Governorate
Next to El-Santa Partial Court
Above El-Shaarawy Laboratory

📞 01092331557
🕘 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

🏘️ Meet Haway Office

📍 Meet Haway Village, El-Santa Center, Gharbia Governorate
In front of Meet Haway Youth Center

📞 01092331557