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Pro Bono: Family Law

Introduction

Pro bono family law resources which may be of relevance to the following groups: 

  • persons seeking a divorce
  • persons seeking enforcement of maintenance
  • persons seeking help for family violence 
  • persons seeking help with child issues
  • pro bono lawyers
  • students assisting with pro bono

What is a Family Case? View this basic guide by the Singapore Courts.

See also: Procedural Law - Family Law

General Resources

Divorce Support: Legal Aid

The Ministry of Social and Family Development has created a page containing a list of Community Legal Clinics

Family Justice Courts

Subsidiary Legislation, Practice Directions

Table Mapping Subject of Matter to Relevant Legislation

Matter

Relevant Legislation

Subsidiary Legislation (SL) / Authorising Act (AA)

Adoption

Adoption of Children Act (Cap. 4)

Family Justice Rules

Family Justice Courts Practice Directions (see Part VIII - Adoption of Children)

-

AA

-

Appointing a Deputy

Mental Capacity Act (Cap. 177A)

Family Justice Courts Practice Directions

SL 

-

International Child Abduction

Family Justice Rules

Family Justice Courts Practice Directions

International Child Abduction Act (Cap. 143C)

Women's Charter

AA

-

SL

SL

Family Violence

Women's Charter

SL

Maintenance

Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act (Cap. 169)

Women's Charter

SL 

 

SL

Probate

Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3)

Family Justice Act (Act 27 of 2014)

Family Justice Rules (Part 14)

Family Justice Courts Practice Directions (Part XII)

Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146)

Probate and Administration Act (Cap 251)

Wills Act (Cap 352)

SL

SL 

--

--

--

SL

--

Youth Court

Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA)

SL
Others

Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3)

Family Justice Act 2014

Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap. 122)

Inheritance (Family Provision) Act (Cap. 138)

Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146)

Legitimacy Act (Cap. 162)

Maintenance of Parents Act (Cap. 167B)

Mental Capacity Act (Cap. 177A)

Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act (Cap. 178A)

Probate and Administration Act (Cap. 251)

Status of Children (Assisted Reproduction Technology) Act 2013 (Act 16 of 2013)

Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322)

Voluntary Sterilization Act (Cap. 347)

Women’s Charter (Cap. 353)

SL

SL 

--

--

--

--

SL

SL

SL

SL

-

 

SL

SL

SL 

Parliamentary Debates

  • Official Reports - Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) 
  • For a more efficient search:
    • Type in name of bill into search box e.g. "Women's Charter"
    • Omit the word "Act" if you are looking for parliamentary debates on Bills 
    • Check the "Search within titles only" box 
    • Search options "Exact phrase search"
    • Click "Search"

Select Committee Reports on Bills

Explanatory Notes 

Law Reform Reports

A. General

Singapore family law judgments can be found on LawNet (access: NUS Law) (access: Other NUS staff & students)

B. Muslim Law

Syariah court judgements are available via LawNet (access: NUS Law) (access: Other NUS staff & students)

Alternatively, C J Koh Law Library has in print the Singapore Syariah appeals reports. 

The Family Justice Courts: Forms page contains forms and documents for the following classes of matters. Under 'Filters', you may narrow down the list of forms under 'All Courts' -> 'Family Justice Courts', or via keyword or specific topic:

  • Adoption
  • Mental Capacity
  • Child Representative in Court
  • Divorce
  • Probate
  • Vulnerable Adults
  • CPF Matters
  • General Matters
  • Electronic Filing (e-Litigation)

Elements of family law in Singapore

Leong, Wai Kum. Singapore : LexisNexis, 2018.

International issues in family law in Singapore 

Ong, Debbie Siew Ling. Singapore : Academy Publishing, 2015.

Law & practice of family law in Singapore

Valerie Thean JC, editor-in-chief. Singapore : Sweet & Maxwell/Thomson Reuters, 2016

Singapore women's charter: 50 questions 

Leong, Wai Kum. Singapore : Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011. 

Family law in Singapore 

Randolph Khoo, Drew & Napier LLC (online publication)

Navigating Muslim law in Singapore 

Singapore : Syariah Law Forum Organising Committee, National University of Singapore, 2017.

Know the Law Now 

Created by the Law Society Pro-Bono Services

Chapter III contains information on:
family proceedings, grounds for divorce, nullification of marriage, custody of children, maintenance, matrimonial assets, Muslim divorce, domestic violence, adoption

 

Community Legal Clinic Manual : Family Law

Published by the Law Society of Singapore, this book contains detailed guidance to volunteer lawyers.

NUS Law students may obtain the password from the Centre for Pro Bono & Clinical Legal Education (probono@nus.edu.sg). 

Research Librarian

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Yee Xin Chai
Contact:
C J Koh Law Library
+65 6601 7163
yxchai@nus.edu.sg
Subjects: Law

Acknowledgement & Contacts

Clement Lin Zikai '18 (LL.B. (Hon.) NUS) was the editor of this page from Jan 2019 to April  2022.