Legal Definitions - rabbinical divorce

Definition: A divorce granted under the authority of a rabbi. This type of divorce affects the relationship of the parties under the tenets of Judaism. It affects particularly a Jewish woman's ability to remarry in accordance with Judaic law. In the United States, it is not generally a divorce recognized in civil courts.

Example: Rachel and David are a Jewish couple who want to get a divorce. They go to a rabbi who grants them a rabbinical divorce, or "get," which allows them to end their marriage under Jewish law. However, this divorce is not recognized in civil courts, so they will still need to go through the legal process of obtaining a civil divorce if they want to dissolve their marriage in the eyes of the law.

Explanation: This example illustrates how a rabbinical divorce is a type of divorce that is recognized under Jewish law but not necessarily under civil law. It shows how a couple can obtain a rabbinical divorce to end their marriage under Jewish law, but they may still need to go through the legal process of obtaining a civil divorce if they want to dissolve their marriage in the eyes of the law.