In Singapore, divorces are classified as being either contested or uncontested. Many divorcing clients request their lawyers to “go for uncontested divorce”. But, is this really a matter of choice? This article seeks to demystify public misconception on what is meant by “uncontested divorce” by way of explaining the different mechanics behind the process of an uncontested divorce. UNCONTESTED DIVORCE Uncontested divorces occur when parties are able to come to an full agreement on one of the reasons for the divorce and how the statement of particulars i.e. the “story” of the incidents that hap ..read more

Deciding to go through a divorce does not always mean that you will have to “fight” in court against your spouse. In recent years, it is reported that almost seven out of ten divorce cases are settled during mediation without the need for contested hearings. Pursuant to section 50(3A) of the Women’s Charter, mediation is compulsory for parties who have at least one child who is below 21 years old. They will have to attend mediation and counselling, as ordered by the court after they have filed their relevant divorce papers. What is mediation and why parties mediate Mediation is an alternative ..read more

The Court must be satisfied that there must be a material change in circumstances according to section 128 of the Women’s Charter. For example, you or your ex-spouse may have re-married, you may have better living arrangements since the conclusion of the divorce proceedings or you may have switched employment which allows you greater flexibility in caring for your child(ren). If you feel that you have a case, you most probably have the merits to vary the original court order to better fit the current condition. Experienced Family lawyers are here to assess the merits of your case to see whethe ..read more

Most divorces in Singapore involve children. From 2008 to 2018, 52-56% of all divorces under the Women’s Charter (Cap 353) involved at least one child below the age of 21. Divorce is thus a life-changing event not just for spouses, but also for their children. Indeed, even if the divorce is uncontested and relations between both spouses do not seem acrimonious, the exposure of children to inter-parental conflict and separation through divorce can have profound, long-term psychological effects on children. Children of divorce tend to experience the following: Anger and/or resentment towards ei ..read more

When aspouse painstakingly obtains a court order for the other spouse to pay wife’s maintenance or for child’s support, only to be met with the payor’s refusal to pay or unilateral deductions of the monthly payment, it seems like the current regime caused the victim more pain to seek repayment. The payor’s are often not deterred by the current law. The usual tactic these non-payors engages would be: defend endlessly with their excuses not to pay; intentionally reduce their work (some even quit their jobs on their own accord), to argue that they have lesser means to pay the ordered sums; inte ..read more

There are a lot of factors that one needs to learn when considering divorce proceedings. With that, much of all the necessary information can be easily found via the internet. From the requirements to the process, there are a lot of divorce articles people can look up to understand all of this. However, these could be daunting when going at it alone, most especially what takes place in court. In this article, we will be covering what exactly happens during the divorce proceedings in Singapore. Keep reading to know what to expect in divorce proceedings so you can prepare accordingly. Overview ..read more

    Going through a divorce makes important decisions way more complex than they should be. It becomes more complicated when these decisions include your children and their welfare. You probably have many questions about who gets custody, who will provide for your children, or where they reside. This spectrum will discuss the process and types of child custody in Singapore.     What is the Difference Between Child Custody and Care and Control 1.Child custody Child custody is the right to a child’s care, control, and maintenance. The court awards this to one of the parents ..read more

Yeo & Associates managing director Beatrice Yeo, whose law firm represented the man, said the appeal decision that followed in the High Court is significant in being the first such ruling. It clarified the position of the appropriate method of valuing the flat that was subject to the MOP, she said. “Both parties had been stuck as to the use of the market price or the purchase price, the surrender value being pegged at a percentage below the purchase price. The court’s answer is the market price,” Ms Yeo said, noting that the Build-to-Order flat in point was valued at some $545,000 early la ..read more

A woman feels threatened or harassed by her husband. She even suffered physical violence for many years, with broken ribs or bruises from the punches. She kept silent because she wished to keep the family intact for the children or she simply does not wish to agitate the husband. This is classic victim of family violence. What is Family Violence Under Section 64 of the Women’s Charter, any of the following acts will amount to “Family Violence”: Willfully or knowingly placing, or attempting to place, a family member in fear of hurt; Causing hurt to a family member by an act which is known or ..read more

It is not as simple as “sale of flat” or “transfer flat from husband to wife”. Period. To have a workable and useful Court Order, you need an experienced family lawyers well-versed in current HDB housing laws, banking rules and rules relating to conveyancing and CPF. A poorly drafted court order with small but pertinent details missing renders the whole court order useless. It also brings about many problems for HDB officers, CPF Board officers and bankers who assess your mortgage loan. You will have to spend legal fees again to vary the court order to make it right. This will lead to wasting ..read more