Legal Definitions - get

A get is a specific document used in Jewish law to formalize a divorce between a husband and wife. It is prepared and signed by a rabbi, and its delivery from the husband to the wife, followed by her voluntary acceptance, is a necessary step to dissolve a Jewish marriage.

• Example 1: Formalizing a Jewish Divorce After a Civil One
  Sarah and David have decided to end their marriage and have already completed the legal process for a civil divorce in court. To ensure they are also divorced according to Jewish tradition and are free to remarry within the Jewish faith, Sarah and David must go through the process of obtaining a get. David, as the husband, would formally present the document to Sarah, who would then accept it, thereby dissolving their Jewish marriage.

• Example 2: The Impact of a Refusal to Grant a Get
  After a contentious separation, Michael and his wife, Rachel, are legally divorced by the state. However, Michael refuses to participate in the Jewish divorce proceedings or sign the get. In this situation, even though Rachel is legally divorced in the eyes of the government, she remains married under Jewish law because Michael has not given her the get. This prevents her from remarrying within the Jewish faith, demonstrating the critical role of the husband's action and the document itself in Jewish divorce.

• Example 3: Verifying Marital Status for a Future Wedding
  Leah, a Jewish woman, is planning to marry her fiancé, Ethan, in a synagogue. She was previously married and divorced through a civil court several years ago. Before the rabbi will officiate Leah's new Jewish wedding, he will likely ask for proof that Leah received a get from her previous husband. This is because, without the proper issuance and acceptance of a get, her previous Jewish marriage would still be considered valid, and her new marriage would not be recognized by Jewish law, highlighting the get's importance for future religious ceremonies and status.