On 4 July 2023, amendments to the Women’s Charter were passed to strengthen protection for victims of family violence and facilitate better rehabilitation of perpetrators. Under the new law, “family violence” refers to physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse. The Women’s Charter provides statutory protection for victims of family violence regardless of gender. Part 7 of the Women’s Charter contains all the provisions pertaining to family violence, and this article will outline the key amendments that have been introduced such as the:  Updated definition of “family violence” S ..read more

Getting a divorce is oftentimes a life-changing decision that can have a significant impact on your family’s life, including your children, if any. If you are considering getting a divorce in Singapore, there are a number of issues that you should keep in mind as you think through this decision. These include not just the legal aspects of getting a divorce, but several practical considerations such as: Is reconciliation possible? Do you meet the eligibility criteria for getting a divorce? On what ground will you divorce? Have you considered the best interests of your children? Are you prepare ..read more

A divorce can be a stressful experience. From my 12 years of experience as a lawyer handling divorce matters, I have seen this stress further aggravated by long-running and fiercely contested divorces, and its associated legal costs. Contested divorces happen when parties disagree on the terms of a divorce and take the matter to court. Where possible, I always advise my clients to opt for a Simplified Uncontested Divorce (SUD). Such divorces happen when both parties have agreed to all the terms of the divorce. The advantages are obvious: the divorce can be completed much faster and is less cos ..read more

In September 2021, a retiree was sentenced to life imprisonment for fatally stabbing his former wife in the carpark of a school campus. In court, it was revealed that the retiree had made numerous demands towards his ex-wife via email for a share of the sale proceeds of a matrimonial property. He had even threatened to commence legal proceedings against her. In a separate case, a woman was stabbed to death by her estranged husband, against whom she had taken out a Personal Protection Order (PPO). Investigations revealed that the man had stalked his wife for a year before killing her, and there ..read more

Navigating divorce proceedings can be complex and often emotionally difficult for all parties involved, especially when there are children to the marriage. Parents who wish to obtain a divorce would need to consider the arrangements they would need to make for their children. These would include issues such as who would have care and control of the children post-divorce. With news highlighting that more divorced couples in Singapore are being granted shared care and control of their children, what are the pros and cons of this option? In this article, we discuss the considerations that parents ..read more

Loan recovery in Singapore is understandably an uncomfortable and awkward topic to broach, especially if the debtor is a friend or family member. If he/she is not showing signs of repaying the loan, how then should you go about recovering the sums owed to you? In this article, I will set out four options for you to consider, and where applicable, point out the pros and cons of each option. These options are: Ascertaining the current financial situation of the debtor  Renegotiating the loan repayment terms Suing to recover the debt Commencing bankruptcy proceedings to recover the debt Op ..read more

Divorce may be difficult for all parties involved, including children. If you are a parent thinking of getting a divorce, you may wish to consider some issues relating to your children when deciding whether or not to continue with the divorce. This article will address 6 such key issues, namely: Your children’s possible reactions to the divorce Who will have custody and care and control of the child  Whether child maintenance is payable Whether you will be able to bring your children overseas after the divorce Whether your children have a say in the divorce Whether you should wait until ..read more

In the 2017 case of GBR v PP, the Singapore High Court laid down a sentencing framework for aggravated outrage of modesty cases under section 354(2) of the Penal Code. This article will explore this sentencing framework for those convicted of outraging the modesty of victims under 14 years old. Outrage of Modesty Where the Victim was Under 14 Section 354(2) of the Penal Code criminalises assaults and the use of criminal force to a person under 14 years old (regardless of the victim’s gender) with the intention or knowledge that the offender will outrage the modesty of that person. Of ..read more

Beatrice Yeo, Yeo & Associates LLC This article will cover: Divorce in Singapore Proposal of the new divorce option – Amicable divorce Reasons to have an amicable divorce Potential pitfalls of amicable divorce Amicable divorce = Easier divorce option? Divorce in Singapore In my past 20 years of experience as a divorce lawyer, I have handled more than 20,000 divorce cases and roughly 65% of the cases go through simplified uncontested divorce. I believe that the majority of couples want their divorce to be uncontested. While some cases do in fact go through simplified uncontested divorce ..read more

Are you and/or your future spouse in a dispute with your wedding vendor about finding alternatives to, or cancelling, your wedding event that had been scheduled to take place between 8 May 2021 and 30 September 2021? If so, you may find this article especially relevant. That’s because the Singapore Ministry of Law (MinLaw) is providing free mediation under the MinLaw COVID-19 (Wedding) Mediation Programme (MCMP) for wedding couples and vendors who have had to adjust their wedding event recently due to COVID-19 regulations. Mediation can be an effective method for resolving your conflict amicab ..read more