Meaning of Interim Judgment?

As a divorce lawyer in Singapore, I explain the meaning of Interim Judgment to my clients on a regular basis.

Meaning of Interim Judgment

Should the Court find sufficient ground for divorce, the Court will grant an interim judgment.

Uncontested divorce Singapore

If you go through an uncontested divorce, the Court will grant an interim judgment after the uncontested divorce hearing.

In the Interim Judgement, the Judge will pronounce that the divorce is dissolved by reason that:

Parties have been separated for a period of 3 years (with consent)/ 4 years;
One/ both parties have behaved in such a way that the other party cannot reasonably be expected to live with him/ her;
One party has committed adultery; or
One party has deserted the other party for a minimum period of 2 years.

In an uncontested divorce, no evidence is required for the Court to grant an Interim Judgment.

If all terms (involving assets, children and alimony) are agreed, further orders will also be made in the Interim Judgment.

After 3 months from the date of the Interim Judgment, the Interim Judgment will be made final and the divorce would have finalized.

If you go through a contested divorce, the Court may/ may not grant an Interim Judgment after the contested divorce hearing depending on the sufficiency of evidence and whether legal requirements are satisfied.

Case where Interim Judgment was not granted

In a British case, Tini Owens’ application for divorce was disallowed. According to Judge Robin Tolson, Owens’ allegations were “of the kind to be expected in marriage” and the Court refused to grant a “divorce petition” (equivalent of Interim Judgment in Singapore).

Owens had said the marriage was “loveless, desperately unhappy and that she was left in a wretched state by his manner, tone, insensitivity and mistrust”.

Owens’ lawyer, Philip Marshall QC, said that “it’s extraordinarily unusual in modern times for a court to dismiss a petition for divorce”.

See: Rob Beschizza, “UK court refuses to let wife divorce husband, tells her unhappiness is to be expected in marriage”, Boing Boing, March 2017

If you need further clarification on the meaning of Interim Judgment, contact us today!