Sim Mui Beng Nancy v Tan Peng Huat Steven: Division of Matrimonial Assets & Maintenance

In the divorce case of *Sim Mui Beng Nancy v Tan Peng Huat Steven*, the High Court of Singapore heard an appeal regarding the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance for the wife. The court upheld the district judge's apportionment of matrimonial assets in a 60:40 ratio in favor of the husband, considering his responsibility to support their younger son. However, the court modified the maintenance order, limiting it to June 2005, by which time the wife would receive her full share of the matrimonial assets. The court also set aside the order for the husband to pay the wife $150,000 for her share of other matrimonial assets, ordering instead the sale of those assets and apportionment of the proceeds.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Appeal allowed in part.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Divorce case concerning the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance. The court considered the husband's obligation to pay maintenance when apportioning assets.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Sim Mui Beng NancyRespondentIndividualAppeal allowed in partPartial
Tan Peng Huat StevenAppellantIndividualAppeal allowed in partPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
S RajendranJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Jasvendar KaurJyah & Jas

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married in 1973 and divorced in 2000.
  2. The husband is in his early 50s and unemployed.
  3. The matrimonial assets included an HDB flat, CPF savings, property in Malaysia, shares, bank accounts, and club memberships.
  4. The District Judge apportioned the matrimonial assets 60% to the husband and 40% to the wife.
  5. The District Judge ordered the husband to pay the wife $300 per month as maintenance.
  6. The wife will not receive the bulk of her share of the husband's CPF account until he is 55 years old.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Sim Mui Beng Nancy v Tan Peng Huat Steven, Div 111/2000, RA 720047/2001, [2002] SGHC 79

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married
Decree nisi dissolving marriage granted
Ancillary matters heard by the District Judge
Ancillary matters heard by the District Judge
Maintenance payment effective date
Appeal heard
Appeal heard
Appeal heard
Judgment date
Maintenance payment end date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court upheld the district judge's apportionment of matrimonial assets in a 60:40 ratio in favor of the husband but set aside the order for the husband to pay the wife $150,000 for her share of other matrimonial assets, ordering instead the sale of those assets and apportionment of the proceeds.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court modified the maintenance order, limiting it to June 2005, by which time the wife would receive her full share of the matrimonial assets.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of matrimonial assets
  2. Maintenance

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial assets
  • Apportionment
  • Maintenance
  • CPF
  • HDB flat

15.2 Keywords

  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance
  • Singapore
  • Family Law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Division of Assets98
Matrimonial Assets98
Family Law95
Divorce90
Maintenance85
CPF Nomination60
Wills and Probate5
Trusts and Estates5

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance