Family law is a highly complex field of law with many sub-areas. Some of the most common are divorce, maintenance and family violence, guardianship and probate and administration.
I. DIVORCE
Divorce can be a stressful time for a couple, but it is much better with our top Singapore divorce lawyers holding your hand. The Women’s Charter is a complex piece of legislation, not to mention the large amount of Singaporean case law on this subject.
Some couples may be able to put aside their differences and enter into a simplified uncontested divorce with all matters agreed. In such cases, our expert divorce specialists will act with efficiency and effectiveness, drafting a comprehensive agreement in the necessary formats required by the Court in the fastest possible time.
Where this is not possible and you have to proceed for a contested divorce, we pull no punches in drafting the complicated Court documents, such as Affidavits of Assets and Means, to protect your interests. We will decipher arcane the arcane terminology of discovery, interrogatories and other interlocutory applications to give you the best possible representation. Recognising that a good deal may be better than a bad outcome, we will also negotiate a favourable bargain in Mediation if possible. Where necessary, we will pursue an appeal to have an unfavourable decision reviewed.
II. MAINTENANCE AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
It is always a wearisome process when one has to apply for child or spousal maintenance or a personal protection order. While it appears to be relatively simple to get things started, conducting the proceedings all the way to the end is difficult without a lawyer as a trial may be necessary, which requires deep knowledge of cross examination techniques (i.e. asking questions during a court hearing) to obtain the best chances of a favourable outcome.
Our best maintenance and family violence lawyers will do their utmost to draft your documents, apply for the necessary interim orders and seek enforcement of orders in order to ensure that you or your child has sufficient maintenance for your needs, obtain an order to protect yourself from family violence or resist an unreasonable claim for maintenance or a personal protection order by the other party.
III. GUARDIANSHIP
When parents are unable to take care of a child, guardians may have to be appointed. This may not always be as simple as it seems as it may involve the wardship jurisdiction of the Court, a complicated topic involving several key applicable decisions in the Family Division of the High Court.
Guardianship applications also involve situations where parents who are not divorced are nevertheless seeking orders for the custody, care and control, access and maintenance for a child, or where there are unmarried parents. This requires an extensive knowledge of the Guardianship of Infants Act.
Our excellent guardianship lawyers will always have the interests of you and your child or ward in mind as they secure the best outcome for you in guardianship proceedings.
IV. PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION
Everyone feels sad when their loved one has passed away. However, after the sadness comes the need to distribute the assets. Where this is uncontested, it is important to do so in the most efficient and hassle-free way possible to make things easier for the grieving family.
In the unfortunate event that the matter is contested, our highly experienced probate and administration lawyers will do their best to advocate for your rights in the Family Justice Courts, and to seek a good settlement if the matter is referred to mediation.
We will also advise you in the course of administration, bearing in mind the complexity of the Probate and Administration Act, Intestate Succession Act, Wills Act and Family Justice Rules. We recognise the importance of emotional sensitivity during this critical juncture and will be your guide every step of the way, deciphering mystifying legal jargon and safeguarding your interests as you recover from the bereavement of your loved one.