Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction Imagine you marry someone with a child from a prior relationship. Initially, you do not mind caring for this child. Then, your marriage sours and you no longer want anything to do with your spouse or the child. However, can your initial conduct of caring for the child unknowingly saddle you with a legal […]
SMU Lexicon: Love gone cold – What does it mean for a marriage to be voidable and When does it happen?
Reading Time: 7 minutesIntroduction “Newly-wed man lied to court about not sleeping with wife to save money on divorce proceedings” – this was the headline of a local news article where a man, Daryl, claimed that his marriage was voidable and should be annulled since his wife refused to consummate it.[1] One who is unaware of the law […]
When A Home Is Not A Home
Reading Time: 9 minutesThe matrimonial home occupies a very special place in the family. During the marriage, it is the cradle of the family. It is where the family starts its day, and where it ends its day. It is where the family breaks bread, and it is where bonds are made. Accordingly, the matrimonial home also occupies […]
Prenuptial Agreements – the importance of being consistent.
Reading Time: 5 minutesPrenuptial agreements are increasingly becoming more prevalent and commonly accepted by parties looking to set out how they intend to agree on financial settlement terms in the event of a divorce. Approaching the topic of preparing and executing a Prenuptial Agreement is always a sensitive topic that should be broached frankly and as an honest […]
10 things to know before entering into a Pre-Nuptial Agreement
Reading Time: 7 minutesA pre-nuptial agreement, or a “pre-nup” as they are commonly called, can be one of the most significant documents a couple signs together in anticipation of marriage. Time-stretched and stressed over wedding preparations, couples tend to routinely sign documents without batting an eyelash. These include purchasing a property together, paying hefty deposits to secure their […]
Lawyer Feature: Viviene Sandhu, Partner in Clifford Law, shares how she admires the Obamas, and how she takes pride in mentoring aspiring lawyers.
Reading Time: 5 minutesViviene is an experienced advocate of more than 21 years who has represented clients in all areas of civil litigation, with a primary focus on insurance and family law. Viviene has handled a broad spectrum of cases ranging from simple cases to complex and contentious matters at all levels of the Singapore Court hierarchy. From […]
Same Sex Couples and Their Rights According to the Proposed Thai Civil Partnership Bill
Reading Time: 4 minutesWhat are the rights the Proposed Thai Civil Partnership Bill grants to Same Sex Couples in Thailand? At the end of 2018, a long-awaited LGBT civil union bill was approved by the Cabinet and is currently pending legislation by the National Legislative Assembly. The Bill is known as the Life Partnership Registration Act (LPRA). According […]
香港：如何避免婚前资产纳入离婚程序？
Reading Time: 1 minutes香港的楼价持续高昂，有能力自置物业组织爱巢的年轻情侣或新婚夫妇并不多，因此近年出现一种现象，就是子女婚后与伴侣跟其中一方的父母同住，或者由父母「资助」子女置业的首期。
在离婚案件中，如何判断婚前资产的真正实益拥有人，往往是个棘手的问题。在YKYM v YMCT [2013] HKEC 487一案中，家事法庭就需要裁断双方在伦敦的婚姻居所究竟是母亲送给儿子和媳妇共同享有结婚礼物，还是只是交由他们以信托形式代她持有。
香港：申请宣告父母身分与婚姻诉讼程序中的「密切联系」测试是否相同？
Reading Time: 1 minutes根据香港法例第179章《婚姻诉讼条例》第3(c) 条，如欲在香港提出的离婚程序，至少其中一方必须与香港有密切联系。过往的离婚案例显示，法院在判断有没有密切联系时会考虑所有相关因素，例如在香港居住多少时间及拥有多少资产。值得注意的是，上诉法庭在近期一宗案件中，将离婚案件的「密切联系」测试的适用范围大幅扩大至其他家事案件。在WSJ v WZC [2019] HKCA 89一案中，一名母亲（「母亲」）代表其未成年儿子（「儿子」）根据香港法例第429章《父母与子女条例》（「该条例」）提出申请
ซีรี่ย์ข้ามแดน: กระบวนการหย่าร้างที่สิงคโปร์ในฐานะเป็นชาวต่างชาติ
Reading Time: 1 minutesประเทศสิงคโปร์เป็นประเทศที่มีความหลากหลายมาก และมีคนจากทั่วโลกมาทำงานและใช้ชีวิตที่นี่เป็นจำนวนมาก ผู้เกิดที่ประเทศสิงคโปร์มีจำนวนมากกว่าครึ่งหนึ่งของประชากรปัจจุบัน ดังนั้นจะเป็นเรื่องไม่ประหลาดใจที่ 40% ของการจดทะเบียนสมรสที่สิงคโปร์ในปีค.ศ. 2008 เป็นระหว่างคนสิงคโปร์และคนต่างชาติ ตอนนี้ยังไม่มีสถิติที่บอกจำนวนการสมรสโดยทั้งสองฝ่ายเป็นคนต่างชาติ ในปี 2017 จะมีคดีหย่าร้าง 1 คดีต่อทุกๆ 4 คดีการสมรส
Sham Marriages in Singapore – Illegal and Carry Heavy Penalties
Reading Time: 3 minutesSham Marriages in Singapore – Illegal and Carry Heavy Penalties What does a sham marriage mean? Between March and July 2017, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) uncovered one of the largest sham marriages to date. Some 17 syndicate members were arrested and 12 of which were convicted. A sham marriage, which is legally referred […]
Why Get Married? And What Happens if the Relationship Goes South Quickly Post Marriage?
Reading Time: 6 minutesMany Singaporeans have dreams of that perfect wedding – in a beautiful church with the bride dressed in white, with the heartiest of celebrations and yum sengs through the night. However, after the party is over and the haze from a night of celebration fades, where the couple finds themselves is at the start of […]