Family & Matrimonial
Divorce and its aftermath: dividing assets, maintenance, and arrangements for your children.
General information on divorce and family law in Singapore, not legal advice. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
In our words
Our team at Dodwell & Co have gained a reputation from years of acting for parties in family and matrimonial disputes. We are known for our careful, meticulous and client-orientated results that does not translate into a worthless paper judgment, but one that ensures that though the marriage is shipwrecked, the salvage has begun, and you have re-established your life and are moving forward in the right direction.
We are not just your lawyers, but your counsel through this process so that you know that your interest is protected, even when you may not in the best place to make the right decisions for yourself. Whatever the stakes, we are well equipped to provide you with result-oriented representation.
What we handle
- Divorce, including cross-border and international divorces
- Division of matrimonial assets, including business assets, inheritance and assets in several countries
- Tracing hidden assets, working with forensic accountants
- Maintenance for a spouse and for children
- Custody, care and control of children
- Cross-border child abduction disputes
- Personal protection orders
- Setting aside orders made in a party's absence
Fees
We believe justice should be accessible to all. We aim to keep our legal fees transparent and competitive without compromising on the quality of our legal services.
| First consultationHearing you out and setting out a case strategy. | Free |
|---|---|
| Uncontested divorceWhere you and your spouse agree on the divorce and its terms. | On enquiry |
| Contested divorce and ancillary mattersActing for you on the divorce, assets, maintenance and children. | On enquiry |
A free first consultation
We offer a free, no obligation and confidential first consultation where we will hear you out and construct a personalised case strategy for your problems.
Common questions
What are the grounds for divorce in Singapore?
There is one ground: the marriage has broken down irretrievably. You show this through one of six facts, which since 1 July 2024 include divorce by mutual agreement, where neither spouse has to blame the other. You generally cannot file until you have been married for three years.
Read the full guide →How does the divorce process work in Singapore?
A divorce has two stages. First the court decides whether to dissolve the marriage and grants an interim judgment; then it deals with the 'ancillary matters' such as children, maintenance and assets. Once those are settled and at least three months have passed since the interim judgment, the final judgment can be obtained.
Read the full guide →Can foreigners get divorced in Singapore?
Yes, if the Singapore courts have jurisdiction. That generally means at least one spouse is domiciled in Singapore when the case starts, or has been habitually resident here for the three years immediately before filing. Even then, the court may decline to hear the case if another country is the more suitable place.
Read the full guide →How are matrimonial assets divided in a Singapore divorce?
The court divides the matrimonial assets in proportions it considers just and equitable. In dual-income marriages it usually compares each spouse's financial contributions and their contributions to the family, averages the two, and then adjusts. In long single-income marriages, courts tend towards an equal split.
Read the full guide →How does maintenance work after a divorce in Singapore?
Both parents must maintain their children, usually until they turn 21. A wife or former wife can ask for maintenance from her husband, and a husband can ask his wife only if he is incapacitated and unable to support himself. There is no fixed formula; the court looks at needs, means and the standard of living during the marriage.
Read the full guide →What happens to our HDB flat when we divorce?
The flat is usually a matrimonial asset that the court can divide. It may be kept by one spouse if they meet HDB's eligibility rules and can take over the loan and refund the other's CPF, sold on the open market if the minimum occupation period is met, or returned to HDB.
Read the full guide →What is the difference between custody, care and control, and access?
Custody is the right to make major decisions about a child, such as schooling, religion and medical care, and is usually shared by both parents. Care and control decides who the child lives with day to day. Access is the time the other parent spends with the child.
Read the full guide →How do I protect myself from family violence?
You can apply to the Family Justice Courts for a personal protection order, which forbids a family member from using violence against you. In urgent cases the court can grant a temporary expedited order, and it can also bar the person from the home. In an emergency, call the police on 999.
Read the full guide →Still have a question? Ask us directly.
Have questions?
Send us a quick note below and let's figure things out together.