- Since 15 October 2024, a divorce starts with a single document called an originating application.
- Stage one ends with an interim judgment. Stage two deals with children, maintenance and assets.
- Parents of a child under 21 must generally attend the Mandatory Co-Parenting Programme before filing.
- You can obtain the final judgment only after the other matters are resolved and at least three months after the interim judgment.
- You cannot remarry until the final judgment.
- As of 2026, firms estimate around four to six months for an uncontested divorce and a year or more for a contested one.
Before you file
Before anything is filed, check that you can divorce in Singapore at all. You generally need to have been married for at least three years, and the Singapore courts must have jurisdiction (see our guides on grounds for divorce and on divorcing as a foreigner).
If you have a child under 21, both parents must generally attend the Mandatory Co-Parenting Programme before filing. This has applied since 1 July 2024, whichever fact the divorce relies on and whether or not the divorce is contested. The programme includes confidential sessions with a counsellor about how to parent together after the divorce.
Starting the case
New family rules came into force on 15 October 2024. Under them, most family cases, including divorces, begin with one document called an originating application. It replaced the writ for divorce and several supporting documents that were needed before. Some older guides still describe the earlier documents.
The papers are filed with the Family Justice Courts and then served on the other spouse. The person who files is now called the 'applicant' and the other spouse the 'respondent'.
Agreed and contested divorces
If both spouses agree on the divorce and on all the other issues (the children, the assets and maintenance), the case can usually go on the simplified track. The court reviews the documents, and the parties generally do not need to attend the hearing.
If you agree that the marriage should end but not on the other issues, the divorce itself can still go ahead without a contest, and the court decides the issues you have not settled. This is usually simpler than a fully contested case.
If the divorce itself is disputed, the court holds case conferences, may direct the parties to mediation, and decides any remaining dispute at a hearing. The Family Justice Courts offer mediation at both stages of a divorce.
Stage one: the interim judgment
If the court is satisfied that the marriage has broken down irretrievably, it grants an interim judgment. This dissolves the marriage in principle, but the marriage has not legally ended yet.
Stage two: the ancillary matters
Next the court deals with what are called the ancillary matters:
- custody, care and control of, and access to, the children;
- maintenance for the children and, in some cases, for a spouse; and
- division of the matrimonial assets, including the home.
If these are agreed, the agreement is put before the court and recorded as a court order. Parents usually set out their agreed arrangements for the children in a parenting plan. If they are not agreed, each spouse sets out their finances in a sworn statement, documents may be exchanged, and the court decides at a hearing.
The final judgment
Once the ancillary matters are resolved and at least three months have passed since the interim judgment, either party can apply for the final judgment. Only then is the marriage legally ended, and only then can either of you remarry. The three-month wait gives both spouses time to consider whether reconciliation is possible.
After the final judgment, changing an order, for example about maintenance or the children, requires a fresh application to court.
How long it takes
As of 2026, law firm guides estimate that an uncontested divorce often takes around four to six months, and that a contested divorce can take a year or longer depending on how much is in dispute. These are rough estimates; the real time depends on the court's schedule and on the issues in your case.
Speaking with a lawyer
The steps and documents depend on whether you and your spouse agree, and on what you need to settle. A family lawyer can explain how the process would apply to you and help you prepare.
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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