What Do You Mean By Alimony in Singapore?
Alimony in Singapore is also known as spousal maintenance, and it comes under the Women's Charter Divorce Law in Singapore.
Generally, it is the wife who is entitled to get maintenance during the marriage or after divorce. Recently, the Singaporean Parliament has made several changes to the law, enabling husbands to file claims for maintenance under distinct circumstances. These include cases when a husband is disabled or unable to support himself.
Amount of Alimony in Singapore
There is no rate or formula to pre-determined the quantum of maintenance for a spouse or ex-spouse in Singapore. The court will define a monthly payment or order reimbursement upon production of receipts or a lump sum based on several factors, which include:
- Income, property, and other finances of the spouses;
- Earning ability of both spouses;
- Financial needs and skills of the spouses existing during the marriage or expected in the foreseeable future;
- Age of spouses and the span of the marriage;
- Any physical or mental disability;
- A value that would be unobtainable for any of the spouses after the dissolution of marriage.
Child Maintenance
Singapore takes children's rights for support to help parents pay maintenance even for children born outside marriage and supporting adopted children and even grown-up adult children under particular circumstances.
In Singapore, children are eligible for maintenance until reaching the age of 21, and this is the state whether they live with their parents on not. Adopted children and birth children have the same rights for support even when they move out from their adoptive parents' home.
The cases when children have the right to get maintenance after reaching the age of 21 include:
- Mental or physical disability,
- Undergoing tertiary education.
Who Can Apply for Children's Maintenance?
In Singapore, the record of persons who can apply for getting child support includes:
- A parent who proceeds to live with the child after divorce,
- An authorized guardian who takes care of the child on behalf of parents,
- Any sibling who is more than 21 years old,
- The child himself or herself, for example, after reaching the age of 21 if the eligibility standards are met.
Determining The Amount of Children's Maintenance
As in the case of alimony in Singapore, there is no fixed rate to determine the amount that the court will order. In general, the sum given for child support shall cover medical expenses, essential costs of living, and education. It must also cater to the equal lifestyle the children had been accustomed at all times.
The Bottom Line
The divorce law in Singapore includes a pre-determined set of conditions for strong spousal and children's maintenance.
If you are looking for an experienced family lawyer to help you with alimony in Singapore, you can consider consulting Mr. Jonathan Wong from The Singapore Family Lawyer. He is well-experienced and holds a strong reputation in the industry. Schedule a free consultation today with Jonathan!
related article:- How to Prepare When Meeting With a Lawyer for Divorce in Singapore?
Comments
Post a Comment