Family Law in Singapore

Family Law in Singapore

With a growing number of Singaporeans and their families being globally dispersed and having assets in more than one country, it is imperative to be able to receive cross-border legal resolution when involved in matrimonial or probate disputes. With the Dentons network spanning across the globe, we are able to draw on the expertise of our lawyers in multiple jurisdictions and offer cohesive and specialised advice for you.

With a wide range of practice groups within our Singapore office and extensive resources available across the global Dentons offices, our lawyers are vastly experienced in dealing with private client disputes which range from the conventional family and matrimonial litigation to cross-border work.

Services offered by our Family Law practice include:

Matrimonial litigation - jurisdictional issues, property division, business valuation, separate property, hidden assets, spousal support.
Collaborative divorce and negotiated settlements.
Children’s cases - custody, child support, relocation, involving cross border issues and the removal of children.
Probate/ Estate Litigation - accounting disputes, contesting wills and trusts, disputes regarding interpretation of a will, removal proceedings, lack of capacity, invalid execution, fraudulence and forgery, manage assets before probate is completed.
Acting for executors, trustees and beneficiaries to distribute assets efficiently.
Wealth preservation for high-net-worth individuals, preparing pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, in the context of matrimonial perspectives for asset planning and to minimise the risk to family wealth posed by divorce proceedings.
Advising individuals and their families, who are planning to get married, considering succession issues or planning to pass their wealth on to the next generation, on trust structures from a litigation perspective.

Experience

Estate administration: Advising executrices on the administration of an estate worth about S$22 million, and disputes regarding the validity of the last will and testament.
Chairman of Singapore listed company and eldest son of high-profile family: Acting in a dispute over shares in private companies in Singapore and Hong Kong, shares in a listed company in Singapore, ownership of a building in the Central Business District of Singapore and various other assets estimated to be worth more than S$200 million. This case concerned events spanning 40 years and was hotly contested over 6 years. It is reported at Tan Yok Koon v Tan Choo Suan and another and other appeals [2017] 1 SLR 654, and is the prevailing authority on certain aspects of the law of resulting trusts and the duties of trustees thereunder, and has also clarified the law on the admissibility of subsequent declarations.
Former husband of local heiress: Acting for a husband seeking a divorce from the heiress of a prominent family lifestyle business in Singapore.
Former wife of a high-profile lawyer: Acting in high-contentious divorce proceedings both on the grounds of divorce as well as on ancillary matters, in relation to an estate worth in excess of S$20 million. Reported as TXW v TXX [2017] SGHCF 4.
Founder and former executive chairman of a listed company: Acting in a dispute with his son in respect of ownership of shares in that company worth approximately S$18 million, breaches of directors' duties and corporate governance. Also acting in a related suit seeking the replacement of the client’s son as administrator of his late wife's estate by reason of his breaches of trust.
AFS v AFU [2011] SGHC 52: Succeeding in obtaining 25% of the stock options worth S$13 million for the wife, which the husband received after separation. Also, securing an injunction to avoid dissipation of assets. Successful in defending the appeal at the Court of Appeal. The latest edition of Elements of Family Law in Singapore by Leong Wai Kum (doyen of family law) has described the decision as an excellent application of the law.
High-net-worth foreign individual: In 2014, succeeded in upholding the distribution of assets as per the prenuptial agreement in a contested hearing on the division of assets.
High-net-worth individual: In 2015, acted for the wife and successfully obtained an equal share in the business and the companies' assets. Successful in defending the appeal in the Court of Appeal.
Surinder Singh s/o Jaswant Singh v Sita Jaswant Kaur [2014] 3SLR 1284: This was the first case where terms agreed at mediation were upheld – Court of Appeal decision.
Wong Kien Keong v Khoo Hoon Eng [2014] 1 SLR 134: The deed of separation was held to be binding, but in the distribution of the assets, the court included a share in the retirement benefits, which included the client origination credits even though it was not provided in the deed.
TAE v TAF [2014] SGDC 47: Representing the father, who was only given supervised access at the first instance hearing. However, on appeal, the decision was overturned, and the father was given unsupervised access.
Koh Yen Ling v Tan Teik Yu Mark [2015] SGFC 126: Whether an asset held on resulting trust is up for division and monies from the in-law’s investment account utilised towards the matrimonial home is considered a gift.
UHG v UHH [2017] SGFC 131: Whether retrenchment benefits received during the marriage regarding employment before marriage was up for division.
TBZ vTCH [2018] SGHCF 18: Asset division worth S$21 million, involving issues of legal and commercial complexity.
UHA v UHB [2018] SGFC 63 and 23: Cross-border and relocation issues.
High-net-worth individuals: Advising on financial settlements/agreements including pre and post-nuptials – options and ways to protect assets, pensions, retirement benefits, family business or inheritance, parenting matters, child support, divorce, spousal maintenance, and relocation matters.
Confidential clients: Arbitration with respect to custody and division of assets. Advising on cross-border custody litigation.
Various clients: Assisting third parties in respect of their assets/estate involved and caught up in Family Law disputes and litigation.
Various clients: Advising foreign nationals on divorce and issues of jurisdiction and domicile, obtaining a stay of divorce proceedings in respect of another forum.
Various clients: Contested application for a grant of probate. Advising on claims and issues arising out of estate administration and the executor’s duties & liabilities.

Recognition

Dentons Rodyk continues to be highly recognised in the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Guide

May 7, 2025

Dentons Rodyk has maintained strong rankings in the latest edition of the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Guide, with 10 practices and 24 lawyers ranked.

Dentons Rodyk named one of Singapore's best law firms for fifth year running

November 1, 2024

Dentons Rodyk has once again been named one of Singapore’s best law firms by national broadsheet The Straits Times and global data research portal Statista.

Dentons Rodyk recognised in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024

January 18, 2024

Dentons Rodyk is pleased to announce that 14 of the firm’s lawyers and 25 practice areas have been ranked in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.

View all recognition for Family Law in Singapore

Insights

How to manage and resolve disputes over family wealth

March 1, 2024

Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand: Navigating disputes over family wealth requires an understanding of legal structures, family dynamics, and financial strategies. This guide discusses how to manage these disputes effectively, focusing on both preserving wealth and maintaining familial bonds. It addresses the unique challenges these disputes present, offering practical strategies for professionals and families to avoid issues with strategic planning and resolve conflicts when they arise.

Future of estate planning: Probate eService

May 12, 2023

Singapore: If you are the sole executor of a will and need to apply for a Grant of Probate in Singapore to deal with the estate (i.e.: property and belongings) of someone who has passed away, you may be interested in the Probate eService, an online service launched in 2023 that simplifies the process of applying for a Grant of Probate in eligible cases. This article examines the eligibility criteria, the steps involved, and some differences between the Probate eService and the traditional probate application process.

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons Rodyk successfully defeats claim of $13 million in the Singapore High Court

January 7, 2025

The Dentons Rodyk team, led by Partners Terence Wah and Suchitra Ragupathy, successfully acted for the client to intervene in, and defeat a claim in the Singapore High Court for $13 million that was based on sham agreements between the client’s ex-husband and his first ex-wife.

Dentons Rodyk secures excellent decision in favour of the client in a High Court case on the division of matrimonial assets.

November 29, 2023

Singapore: The Dentons Rodyk’s Family Law practice team, led by Partner Suchitra Ragupathy, successfully acted for their client (the Wife) in a High Court case ([2023] SGHCF 51) on the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance for children.

Family Law in Singapore

Family Law in Singapore

Experience

Recognition

Dentons Rodyk continues to be highly recognised in the Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific Guide

Dentons Rodyk named one of Singapore's best law firms for fifth year running

Dentons Rodyk recognised in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2024

Insights

How to manage and resolve disputes over family wealth

Future of estate planning: Probate eService

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons Rodyk successfully defeats claim of $13 million in the Singapore High Court

Dentons Rodyk secures excellent decision in favour of the client in a High Court case on the division of matrimonial assets.

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Family Law in Singapore

Family Law in Singapore

Experience

Recognition

Insights

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

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How can the world's largest global law firm help you today ?

Contact us or find an office in your location.

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