In the case of Chaar v. Chehab, the Massachusetts Appeals Court dealt with a custody dispute involving a Lebanese court order. Nazih Mohamad El Chaar, the father, sought to enforce a Lebanese court’s custody decision in Massachusetts, which had suspended the mother’s custody rights because she had moved to Massachusetts with their child without his consent. The Massachusetts Probate Court dismissed the father’s complaint, as he failed to demonstrate that the Lebanese court’s decision was in substantial conformity with Massachusetts law, particularly regarding the best interests of the child. The court emphasized that for a foreign custody order to be recognized, it must align with Massachusetts standards, which prioritize the child’s best interests. The father’s expert on Lebanese law was not qualified by the court, as his experience was primarily in mediation rather than legal proceedings. The Appeals Court affirmed the dismissal, underscoring the importance of substantial conformity with local laws in international custody cases.