ABU DHABI // A mother should not be granted custody of her children because their grandmother had been caring for them for months, the cassation court has ruled.
The woman had left her three children in the custody of their father’s mother, saying she was too busy with her personal affairs.
The grandmother had cared for the eldest son for three years, the second daughter for two years and the youngest daughter for 10 months ago.
The mother filed a case against the grandmother, saying that as she was their natural mother, she was more fit to take care of them.
However, she lost the lawsuit in the first instance, appeals and cassation courts.
The cassation court ruled on Monday that the welfare of the children was the most important concern when deciding who has custody.
The mother willingly left them with grandmother, she had married another man and had children by him as well as children from a previous marriage, hence the grandmother was a more suitable guardian, the court ruled.
hdajani@thenational.ae
