Soh Seng Hwee v Paw Ling Chiang Lina: Maintenance Payment Dispute After Divorce
In the divorce case of *Soh Seng Hwee v Paw Ling Chiang Lina*, the High Court of Singapore, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Woo Bih Li, addressed the husband's application to reduce maintenance payments and the wife's application for a lump sum maintenance on 16 July 2002. The court dismissed the husband's application to reduce the monthly maintenance from $5,000 to $1,000 and made no order on the wife's application for a lump sum maintenance of $350,000, citing insufficient evidence of the husband's assets and income.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Husband's application to reduce maintenance dismissed; no order made on wife's application for lump sum maintenance.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Divorce case involving a dispute over maintenance payments. The court dismissed the husband's application to reduce maintenance and made no order on the wife's application for a lump sum.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soh Seng Hwee | Respondent, Applicant | Individual | Application dismissed | Lost | |
| Paw Ling Chiang Lina | Petitioner, Respondent | Individual | No order made | Neutral |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Woo Bih Li | Judicial Commissioner | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|
4. Facts
- A Decree Nisi was granted to dissolve the marriage on 16 September 1992.
- The parties entered into a Deed of Settlement dated 5 February 1988.
- The Husband was ordered to pay the Wife maintenance of $5,000 per month.
- The Husband applied to reduce the maintenance in 1996, but the application was rejected.
- The Wife applied for a lump sum maintenance of at least $350,000.
- The Husband also sought a reduction of the maintenance to be paid to the Wife.
- The Husband offered a lump sum maintenance of only $5,000.
5. Formal Citations
- Soh Seng Hwee v Paw Ling Chiang Lina, , [2002] SGHC 149
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Deed of Settlement entered into by parties | |
| Decree Nisi granted to dissolve the marriage | |
| Order made for Husband to pay Wife maintenance of $5,000 per month | |
| Decision made that there be no variation of maintenance | |
| Wife applied for a lump sum maintenance | |
| Wife filed second affidavit | |
| Judgment issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Variation of Maintenance
- Outcome: The court dismissed the husband's application to reduce the maintenance payments.
- Category: Substantive
- Lump Sum Maintenance
- Outcome: The court made no order on the wife's application for a lump sum maintenance due to insufficient evidence of the husband's assets and income.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Reduction of Maintenance
- Lump Sum Maintenance
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Family Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Deed of Settlement
- Decree Nisi
- Maintenance
- Lump Sum Maintenance
- Variation of Maintenance
15.2 Keywords
- divorce
- maintenance
- lump sum
- variation
- family law
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | 95 |
| Divorce | 90 |
| Matrimonial Assets | 85 |
| Matrimonial Assets Division | 80 |
| Financial Relief | 75 |
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Maintenance