Divorce Procedures in Singapore

Are you curious about divorce procedures in Singapore?

Divorce Procedures in Singapore- all terms agreed

For an uncontested divorce (all terms agreed), divorce procedures in Singapore are relatively simple and straightforward.

The lawyer drafts the divorce papers and arrange for signing.
After the papers are signed, the papers are submitted to Court.
The Court grants an Interim Judgment. If nothing happens within 3 months, Final Judgment will be granted. That is the end of the divorce procedures in Singapore.
The whole process will take about 4 months.

Divorce Procedures in Singapore- terms not agreed

What happens when the terms are not agreed?

If you have a child under the age of 14, you need to attend the mandatory parenting programme (some form of counselling). After which, you will receive a certificate- making you eligible to file for divorce.
If you have a HDB flat, your lawyer needs to write to HDB to request for information by way of a Standard Query.
After 1 and 2 are completed, your lawyer will file the divorce papers in Court and serve the papers on your spouse.
Your spouse may choose to contest the divorce and/ or the terms.
Chances are, you will proceed to mediation. If you manage to reach a settlement with your spouse, your divorce process ends.
If you do not manage to reach a settlement with your spouse, you are required to exchange documents and affidavits (sworn statements) with your spouse, before the Court hears the matter in an ancillary matters hearing. The Court makes a decision and the divorce process comes to a close.
The whole process will take about 6 months to a year.

There are instances whereby one party (or both parties) decide to reconcile midway through the divorce. If Interim Judgment has not been granted, both parties can inform the Court of their decision to discontinue the divorce proceedings. If Interim Judgment has been granted, both parties may wish to file an application to rescind the Interim Judgment. If Final Judgment has been granted, both parties may wish to remarry.

In my career as a divorce lawyer in Singapore, I have seen a few instances of reconciliation midway through the divorce. Such (nice) things do happen.

Recently, I read that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt may not be getting a divorce after all as Jolie “is still so in love with him”.

While the story may or may not be true, there are certainly ways for a couple to get back together even after the commencement (or conclusion) of divorce proceedings.

See: Nilanjana Basu, “Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt And The Divorce That Might Not Happen”, NDTV, 10 August 2017

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