The wife’s right to know about her husband’s marital status

According to Egyptian family law the husband has to inform the employer of marriage notary about his true marital status. So if he has wife or wives, he should provide their names, addresses, and the employer is obliged to inform them about the new marriage.

In this case, the wife can file for divorce because her husband has married a new wife after her. This right can be exercised for a year, starting from the moment when she becomes aware of the new marriage. After that the wife no longer has the right to file for divorce for this reason.

But, if her husband marries another new wife after that, her right is recreated again, and she can file for divorce for this reason every time he has new wife.

Also, as concerns the new wife, if she didn’t know anything about that her husband has another wife she has the right to divorce him for this reason by the same rules.

When the husband decides to divorce his wife, he should document this decision in government at maximum 30 days from the act.

If the wife appears with the husband in front of employer to document this divorce, it is noted that she knows about the act, but if she doesn’t come with her husband, the employer has to inform her with the legal documents that the divorce was happened.

All of the legal results that are passed on the act of divorce are in effect starting from the moment of divorce, unless if the husband didn’t inform his wife about the actions he has taken. If so, all of these results will be in force starting from the moment which the information is known to both parties.

This is mandatory, and the husband should be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months and a fine not exceeding two hundred pounds, or one of these penalties, if he has violated any of the provisions set forth in the article.