Family law

• Main Authors: HO, Wei Jing Tricia, CHEN, Siyuan
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2020
• Subjects: Family law; Courts; Singapore; Asian Studies; Family Law
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/3359; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/sol_research/article/5317/viewcontent/7566__2019__20_SAL_Ann_Rev_16_Family.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Two salient trends emerge from the decisions issued by the Singapore courts in 2019. First, cases with international elements are featured increasingly, with the Court of Appeal adjudicating its first case on financial relief consequential on foreign divorces and the High Court releasing a decision on sham marriages to obtain an immigration advantage. It is evident that the law is evolving to cater to the needs of a changing community in Singapore. There is a recognition of the increase in the number of Singapore citizens working abroad and marrying non-Singaporeans, which has prompted certain legislative changes that seek to provide appropriate remedies and effectively deal with new situations that arise. Secondly, there have also been decisions by the Family Justice Courts on the division of matrimonial assets and in particular, the applicability of the structured approach set out in ANJ v ANK (“ANJ”) to long marriages. In connection with this, there have been judicial and academic pushes towards equal division in long marriages. This edition of the review will also cover cases involving child issues, maintenance, and procedure.