Last Change:

04/07/2025

Family Law

Year: 1975

Type: Domestic law

Rights Category: Family life

Link to external source: https://muslimfamilylawindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Family-Law-No.-23-1975.pdf
Description

Family Law No. 23 of 1975 is a comprehensive legal framework enacted in Somalia to regulate marriage, divorce, parental responsibilities, maintenance, guardianship, custody, and inheritance. The law establishes family relationships based on equality, social justice, and Islamic principles, particularly the Shafi’i school of law. 

Selected provisions
Article 4 – Definition and object of marriage

Marriage is a contract between a man and a woman having equal rights and duties; it is founded on mutual understanding and reciprocal respect between the contracting parties and its object is to create a united family, recognising that the family is the corner stone of society.

Article 65 – Requisites of the person entitled to custody

The person who has the custody of the child must look after the interests of the child and should be of age and of sound mind.