MUST BOTH PARTIES TO A DIVORCE APPEAR BEFORE THE BEIT DIN CHOSEN BY THE INITIATING PARTY?
A person is not compelled to submit to the beit din chosen by the other party, however, he/she must answer the initial hazmanah of that beit din. If the purpose of the hazmanah is solely to bring the wife to the beit din to receive the Get, it may not be worthwhile to contest the husband’s choice of beit din. However if the beit din is addressing issues of spousal and/or child support and custody, the choice of beit din becomes much more significant.
