UE v UF: Divorce Petition Based on Adultery and Division of Matrimonial Assets

In the divorce case of UE v UF, heard in the High Court of Singapore on 23 August 2007, Justice Lai Siu Chiu addressed the wife's petition based on the husband's adultery. The court made orders regarding the division of matrimonial assets, including the matrimonial property and shares in XYZ Ltd, maintenance payments for the wife and children, and joint custody of the children with care and control to the wife. The husband filed an appeal against the orders for maintenance for the wife, the award of $290,000 to the wife, and other orders.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Orders made for division of matrimonial assets, maintenance for the children and wife, and joint custody of the children.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Divorce petition filed by UE against UF based on adultery. The court addresses division of matrimonial assets, maintenance, and custody.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
UEPetitionerIndividualOrders made in her favor regarding division of matrimonial assets, maintenance, and custody.Partial
UFRespondentIndividualOrders made against him regarding division of matrimonial assets, maintenance, and custody.Lost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Lai Siu ChiuJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Koh Geok JenJen Koh & Partners
Felicia NgPiah Tan & Partners

4. Facts

  1. UE and UF married on 17 March 1987 and have three daughters.
  2. UE filed for divorce on 30 June 2005 based on UF's adultery with Wang Lin.
  3. The parties reached an agreement after mediation allowing the wife’s petition to be heard on an uncontested basis.
  4. The matrimonial property at Onan Road was sold for $1,350,000.
  5. The wife worked for the Company until August 2005.
  6. The husband is a director of a Chinese company called DDD Co Ltd.
  7. The husband started CCC Pte Ltd with the co-respondent.

5. Formal Citations

  1. UE v UF, DT 2914/2005, [2007] SGHC 134

6. Timeline

DateEvent
UE and UF married at the Registry of Marriages, Singapore.
Wife filed divorce petition based on husband’s adultery.
Wife granted a decree nisi.
Maintenance order issued, husband ordered to pay $4,800 to the wife and children plus the cost of a maid.
Ancillary matters relating to division of matrimonial assets, maintenance and custody of the children came up for hearing.
Judgment issued.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court ordered an equal share in the net sale proceeds of the matrimonial property after refund of each party’s Central Provident Fund contributions utilised in the purchase, but $290,000 would be deducted from the husband’s share together with the arrears of maintenance amounting to $46,060.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered the husband to pay monthly maintenance of $2,000 for the children and $3,500 (which included $2,500 for household expenses) to the wife commencing 1 June 2007.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Custody of Children
    • Outcome: The court ordered that the parties would have joint custody of the children with care and control to the wife, with reasonable access at all times to the husband subject to the children’s school and extracurricular activities.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Divorce
  2. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  3. Maintenance
  4. Custody of Children

9. Cause of Actions

  • Adultery
  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce Litigation
  • Family Law

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Ryan v BergerN/AYes[2001] 1 SLR 419SingaporeCited as an example of equal partnership where the parties treated the Company as their own “piggy bank” to fund their business as well as their personal expenses.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 1997 Rev Ed)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance
  • Custody
  • Adultery
  • Divorce Petition
  • Central Provident Fund
  • Overdraft Account
  • Mortgage Loan
  • Company Funds

15.2 Keywords

  • divorce
  • matrimonial assets
  • maintenance
  • custody
  • adultery
  • Singapore
  • family law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets90
Divorce90
Maintenance85
Child Custody80
Child Support75
Contract Law30
Company Law25
Banking and Finance15

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Child Custody
  • Maintenance