Plain answers to common family law questions
General information on Singapore family law, written in everyday language. Read up before you decide anything, then speak with a lawyer about your own situation.
Family law guides
Divorce under civil and Muslim law, what happens to children and assets, and other family matters.
Getting divorced
3 articles
How does a divorce work in Singapore?
An outline of a civil divorce under the Women's Charter: who can file, the three-year rule, the two stages of the case, and how Interim and Final Judgment fit together.
Read the guide
What are the grounds for divorce in Singapore?
Singapore law has a single ground for divorce. This guide explains the six facts you can rely on to prove it, including divorce by mutual agreement, which became available on 1 July 2024.
Read the guide
How does a Muslim divorce work at the Syariah Court?
An outline of divorce for couples married under Muslim law in Singapore: who it applies to, the main ways a marriage can be dissolved, the counselling that comes first, and the financial and child-related claims that follow.
Read the guideChildren, assets and maintenance
3 articles
Child custody, care and control, and access
How Singapore courts approach arrangements for children when parents separate or divorce, and what the three main types of order mean in practice.
Read the guide
How are matrimonial assets divided in a divorce?
How Singapore courts identify the pool of matrimonial assets on divorce and decide how to divide it between the spouses.
Read the guide
Maintenance for a spouse and children
Who can claim maintenance in Singapore, how the court decides the amount, and what can be done if payments are not made.
Read the guideProtection and adoption
2 articles
Family violence and personal protection orders
What counts as family violence under Singapore law, how to apply for a personal protection order, and the other orders the court can make.
Read the guide
Adopting a child in Singapore
Who can adopt under the Adoption of Children Act 2022, the main steps from briefing to court order, and what an adoption order means for the child and the adoptive parents.
Read the guideDidn't find your question?
These guides are general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, so ask us about yours in a private, no-pressure conversation.
Have questions?
Send us a quick note below and let's figure things out together.