- A personal protection order (PPO) forbids a family member from using family violence against you.
- Family violence covers physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse.
- An expedited order gives temporary protection in urgent cases while the PPO application is pending.
- The court can also bar the person from your home, from places you go, or from contacting you.
- Breaching an order is a criminal offence, and the police can arrest without a warrant.
If you are in danger now
If you are in immediate danger, call the police on 999. The orders described here are for ongoing protection; they do not replace emergency help.
What counts as family violence
Under the Women's Charter, family violence is not only physical. Amendments passed in 2023 made clear that it covers physical, sexual, emotional and psychological abuse, including intimidation, harassment and conduct likely to cause mental harm.
The orders protect family members, including spouses and former spouses, children, parents, parents-in-law, siblings and other relatives.
The personal protection order
A personal protection order forbids the person named in it from using family violence against you. The court can grant one if it is satisfied, on a balance of probabilities, that family violence has been committed or is likely to be committed, and that the order is needed for your protection.
The court can attach other terms. These include requiring the person to attend counselling, and orders that keep them away from places you often go, such as your workplace or your child's school, or that stop them contacting you.
Orders for urgent situations
If there is an urgent risk, the court can grant an expedited order. This is a temporary protection order that lasts until the main application is heard, or for a short fixed period, so you are not left unprotected while you wait.
Under the 2023 amendments, specially appointed officers of the Ministry of Social and Family Development can also issue an emergency order at the scene in high-risk cases. It lasts for a short period to give the person at risk time to apply to court.
Keeping someone out of the home
A domestic exclusion order bars the person from the shared home, or from parts of it. The court can make one alongside a protection order where it is needed for your safety.
How to apply
You can apply to the Family Justice Courts online, or in person at the courts or at a Family Violence Specialist Centre. Since the 2023 amendments, a person aged 18 to 21 can apply without a guardian.
Evidence helps. Keep police reports, medical reports of any injuries, and messages or other records.
If the order is broken
Breaching a protection order, or an order attached to it, is a criminal offence. Report a breach to the police, who can arrest the person without a warrant.
Protection orders and divorce
A protection order is separate from a divorce. Getting one does not on its own prove a ground for divorce, but the court may take it into account. It can also be relevant to arrangements for children.
Speaking with a lawyer
A family lawyer can help you understand which orders fit your situation and how to present your evidence. If you are at risk, help is also available from the police and from family violence support services.
This article is general information on Singapore law and is not legal advice. Rules and agency policies change, and every situation is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
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