Singapore Divorce FAQ

• If the Plaintiff knew of the circumstances whereby he or she could have avoided the marriage but conduct himself or herself such as to lead the Respondent reasonably to believe that the Plaintiff would not seek to do so; and that it would be unjust to the Defendant to grant the decree.

• For the Application based on the ground of mental illness, lack of consent, pregnancy and venereal disease, the Application must be instituted within 3 years of marriage

A decree of Nullity shall operate to annul the marriage with respect to any time after the decree has been made absolute (i.e. final). Notwithstanding the decree, the marriage is treated as if it had existed up to that time.

Notwithstanding the annulment, as at the date of the decree, the child shall be deemed to be their legitimate child (if the child would have been the legitimate child of the parties to the marriage if it had been dissolved (by way of divorce) instead of being annulled.

A spouse can file for a judgment of nullity in respect of his or her marriage (section 104, Women’s Charter). A marriage may be held void or voidable.

A marriage is void where:

• Either party is below the age of 18.
• The parties are within prohibited degrees of relationship as set out in the Women’s Charter, and have not obtained a special statutory marriage licence to wed.
• Either party has committed bigamy.
• The parties are not respectively male and female.
• The marriage is not formally solemnised.

A marriage can be held voidable on the grounds of:

• Non-consummation owing to the incapacity of either party to consummate it or wilful refusal of the defendant to consummate it.
• Either party not validly consenting to the marriage, whether as a consequence of duress, mistake, unsoundness of mind or otherwise.
• Either party, although capable of giving a valid consent, suffering (whether continuously or intermittently) from a mental disorder so as to be unfit for marriage.
• The defendant suffering from venereal disease in a communicable form.
• The defendant being pregnant by some person other than the claimant.

A claim that a marriage is voidable can be defeated if it can be shown that the claimant, knowing that it was open to him to have the marriage avoided, so conducted himself to lead the other spouse reasonably to believe that he would not seek to do so. Claims for nullity (on the second to fifth grounds above) must be made within three years from the date of marriage.

You may reconcile with your spouse even after signing the Deed of Separation. Alternatively, you may proceed with your divorce after 3 years (if your spouse consents) or 4 years (if your spouse does not).

You may wish to be separated from your spouse for a period of time before you decide on a divorce. In the meantime, the parties can still work out on reconciliation.

In this case, you may sign an agreement called a Deed of Separation which will set out the terms and conditions governing the relationship between you and your spouse during the period of separation. Both parties may mutually agree on an arrangement for the custody care and control of the children (minor), maintenance of a spouse and/or children and division of the matrimonial assets in the event of a divorce.

A Deed of Separation is a private document, and not lodge with any government departments, and the Separation Deed may be revoked at any time with the consent of both parties.

Although the parties may have mutually agreed to the terms in the Separation Deed, either party can still apply to have any of the terms set aside by the Family Court (unless the Deed of Separation was sanctioned by the Court).

It would be advisable for you to consult a lawyer to draft the Deed of Separation, and the Deed signed in the presence of a lawyer.

This Order is usually used as the last resort, which means that the Court will sentence the Defendant to a term of imprisonment. Such order is usually not beneficial to the wife, ex-wife or children because if the husband or father is in prison, he is unable to earn any income.

Divisible matrimonial assets are defined as any asset of any nature acquired during marriage by one or both spouses. Any asset acquired by a spouse before marriage is not treated as a matrimonial asset unless:

• The asset is ordinarily used or enjoyed by both parties or one or more of their children for shelter or transportation or for household, education, recreational, social or aesthetic purposes.
• The asset has been substantially improved during the marriage by the other party or both parties.

Any asset acquired at any time by gift or inheritance is not divisible, unless substantially improved during the marriage by the other party or by both parties to the marriage.

The statutory criteria considered include the:

• Extent of contributions in money by either party.
• Parties’ property or work to the acquisition, improvement or maintenance of marital assets.
• Debts or obligations undertaken for the benefit of the family.
• Needs of any children.
• Extent of contributions to care for the family and relatives.
• Income, earning capacity and financial needs of the parties in the foreseeable future.
• Duration of the marriage.
• Age of the parties.

The Singapore Court, when granting a judgment of divorce, judicial separation or nullity of marriage, has powers to order the division or sale of matrimonial assets, in such proportions as the Court thinks just and reasonable.

During the subsistence of a Marriage, the husband has an obligation to maintain his wife and children.

Generally for short, childless marriages, a wife tends to get a share of the matrimonial assets which is close to her direct contribution to their acquisition and where possible, lump sum maintenance.

In the division of matrimonial assets in long marriages “the proportion awarded to homemaker wives who have made modest financial contributions for marriages lasting 17 to 35 years with children, ranged between 35% to 50% of the total matrimonial assets, but subject to exceptions.

The Singapore Court emphasised the need for a holistic assessment of direct monetary contributions and all other indirect contributions in deciding on the division of assets.

The husband’s or father’s personal property is seized and will be sold to pay for arrears of maintenance.

It means the husband’s or father’s employer is ordered to keep a part of his salary to pay for the maintenance. If he leaves his employment, a new order has to be obtained against his new employer.

The Court may order the following:-

• attachment of earnings order
• writ of seizure & sale
• imprisonment

Yes, the Court may vary, rescind or suspend the Order if :-

• it was made based on a misrepresentation or a mistake; or

• there has been a material change in the circumstances after the Order was made

Only wives can claim spousal maintenance. Maintenance can be claimed on an interim basis pending the hearing of matrimonial proceedings and at the final hearing of ancillary matters.

The court must have regard to all the circumstances of the case when awarding maintenance (section 114(1), Women’s Charter). This includes income, earning capacity, property, the parties’ age, financial resources, needs and obligations, the standard of living of the family before the breakdown of the marriage, the duration of marriage, any disability and financial and non-financial contributions. Parties should be, as far as is practicable, put in the financial position they would have been in had the marriage not broken down and where each party properly discharged his or her financial responsibilities to the other (section 114(2), Women’s Charter).

There is no broad principle that a husband who has not maintained a wife during the marriage is automatically absolved of the need to do so after a divorce. In addition, a former wife must, where possible, make reasonable efforts to secure gainful employment and contribute to preserve her pre-breakdown lifestyle. The court assesses the reasonableness of a spousal maintenance claim taking into account the husband’s ability to pay .

Maintenance is often claimed and awarded pending the conclusion of matrimonial proceedings as part of the ancillary matters.

They are:-

• Maintenance of ex-wife
• Custody of children
• Maintenance of children
• Division of assets and
  properties

A child of the marriage is any child of the husband and wife, including any adopted child and any other child (whether or not a child of the husband or of the wife) who was a member of the family of the husband and wife at the time they ceased to live together or at the time immediately preceding the institution of the proceedings, whichever first occurred.

The court can order a parent to pay maintenance for the benefit of a child of the marriage who is under the age of 21 during matrimonial proceedings. Child maintenance can be sought on an interim basis and at the final hearing of ancillary matters.

A child who is above 21 is still entitled to maintenance if he:

• Has a mental or physical disability.
• Is undertaking compulsory military service.
• Is undertaking educational or vocational training.

When ordering child maintenance, the court must have regard to all the circumstances of the case, including:

• The financial needs of the child
• Income of the parents
• Earning capacity (if any) of the parents
• Property and financial resources of the parents
• Any disability of the child
• The age of the parents
• The duration of the parents’ marriage
• The standard of living enjoyed by the child before the parent ceased providing reasonable maintenance for the child

Both parents must maintain or contribute to the maintenance of their children. In assessing maintenance, the Court will have regard to the parent’s means and station in life.

The court has the power to place a child in the custody of either parent.

A parent with custody over the child has control and responsibility over the upbringing, education, health and religion of the child. 

A parent with care and control of the child has the right to make daily decisions about a child’s upbringing. This right naturally belongs to the parent with whom the child lives.

The court usually grants access to the parent who does not have care and control of the child. Access gives the parent a right to regular contact with the child. Access can be unsupervised, but is usually supervised if there are risks of emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

The Singapore court has endorsed the concept of joint parental responsibility, even where there is acrimony between the parents. Singapore courts now generally place children in the joint custody of both parents. Courts may not order joint custody in exceptional circumstances such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse of the child by one parent, or where the relationship between the parties is such that co-operation is impossible.

Orders for joint care and control are comparatively rare in Singapore. In deciding which parent should be given care and control of the children.

A post-nuptial agreement is a legal agreement made between individuals who are already married. The agreement usually sets out how the couple wish their assets to be divided between them if they later separate or divorce. Some post-nuptial agreements also detail how the couple currently arrange their finances and how this will continue or change during the marriage.

Singapore law does not treat pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements as being automatically binding. Spouses may challenge such agreements, as these are subject to the scrutiny of the court, to determine whether and to what extent pre- and post-nuptial agreements are enforceable.

Singapore courts have long held that pre-nuptial agreements that enable a spouse to negate a marriage and its legal obligations are against public policy and unenforceable. However, agreements that regulate marital relations (for example, dictating how the couple should live and conduct themselves as spouses in line with Chinese customary practices) are not invalid. 

The courts have jurisdiction to review and vary agreements relating to maintenance and custody. When exercising powers to divide marital assets, the court must have regard to any agreement between the parties regarding the ownership and division of matrimonial assets made in contemplation of a divorce.

A pre- or post-nuptial agreement cannot be enforced in and of itself. Such an agreement is just one of the factors considered by the court in exercising its power to divide the matrimonial assets. A valid agreement will, to the extent that it is considered relevant, be reflected in an order of the court. Such an agreement cannot exclude the jurisdiction of the court.

A pre-nuptial agreement is a legal agreement made between two individuals before their marriage has taken place. The agreement usually sets out how the couple wish their assets to be divided between them if they later separate or divorce. Some pre-nuptial agreements also detail how the couple currently arrange their finances and how they will arrange their finances during the marriage.

It can:-

1. with the consent of the parties, interview them in Chambers (Judge’s room), with or without the presence of their lawyers
2. nominate a Conciliation Officer to endeavour to effect a reconciliation
3. postpone the proceedings to allow the parties the opportunity of being reconciled

It is to be noted that anything said or discussed (including admissions) in the course of an endeavour to effect a reconciliation will not be admissible in Court if the parties proceed with the proceedings after such attempt fails.

Section 89 of the Women’s Charter provides that it is the duty of the Court in a petition for a Divorce or Judicial Separation to give consideration to the possibility of a reconciliation of the parties to the marriage.

There may be reasons that you may not want a Divorce which ends a marriage, such as on religious or moral grounds. Or you may not meet the 3 years’ restriction on applications for divorces.

Yes, the Court can deal with these matters such as custody of children and maintenance and division of the matrimonial assets.

An Applicant can opt to file for a Judicial Separation instead of a Divorce. Alternatively, the parties can engage a lawyer to prepare a Deed of Separation.

Applications for judicial separation can be made on proof of one of the same five facts to prove an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage

Spouses who are separated no longer need to cohabit with each other. A judicially separated spouse cannot claim in the intestacy of the other spouse.

Once the decree of Judicial Separation is granted by the Court, the Applicant is no longer obliged to cohabit with the other spouse.

Common Legislations relevant to Divorce and Family Law matters are as follows:-

• Act 3: Administration of Muslim Law Act
• Act 4: Adoption of Children Act
• Act 122: Guardianship of Infants Act
• Family Justice Act 2014
• Act 168: Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act
• Act 169: Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act
• Act 177A Mental Capacity Act
• Act 321: State Courts Act
• Act 322: Supreme Court of Judicature Act
• Act 353: Women’s Charter

Please visit Singapore Statutes Online (Free) to access any of the above Acts.