Conversion Divorce (Section 51)

A conversion divorce ends a civil marriage after one spouse converts to Islam.

Under Section 51 of Act 164, the spouse who did not convert may petition for divorce on this ground. The petition cannot be filed until three months after the date of conversion.

The civil court keeps its power over the marriage and the ancillary matters. It can make orders for the spouse and for the support, care and custody of the children.

Why it matters: conversion does not take the marriage out of the civil court. The non-converting spouse still has a clear route to divorce and to orders for the children.