VB v VC: Division of Matrimonial Assets, Child Custody, and Maintenance Dispute
In the divorce case of VB v VC, the High Court of Singapore, presided over by Justice Choo Han Teck on 29 October 2007, addressed issues of child custody, supervised access, division of matrimonial assets, and maintenance for the wife and children. The court granted custody, care, and control of the two children to the petitioner, VB, with supervised access for the respondent, VC. The primary matrimonial asset, a condominium unit, was ordered to be divided equally after CPF contributions were deducted, with a slightly greater share awarded to the petitioner. A lump sum maintenance payment was ordered for the petitioner and nominal maintenance for the children.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Orders made for supervised access, division of matrimonial assets, and lump sum maintenance payment.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Divorce case involving VB and VC concerning division of matrimonial assets, child custody with supervised access, and maintenance for the wife and children.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VB | Petitioner | Individual | Custody, care, and control of children granted, Lump sum maintenance awarded | Won, Partial | Tan Shin Yi |
| VC | Respondent | Individual | Supervised access ordered, Maintenance payment ordered | Lost, Lost |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Tan Shin Yi | Harry Elias Partnership |
4. Facts
- Parties married on 8 April 1991 and have two children.
- Decree nisi was granted on 3 March 2006.
- Petitioner is a self-employed business woman earning approximately $5,000 a month.
- Respondent was a trading representative, later a remisier, with a declared income of $36,000 in 2006.
- The matrimonial home was purchased in September 2000 for $1.35m and sold en bloc for $2,393,195.50.
- Petitioner contributed $405,610.78 from CPF, and respondent contributed $301,460.20 to the matrimonial home.
- The petitioner claimed the respondent dissipated $596,643.87 from the sale of a previous flat.
5. Formal Citations
- VB v VC, DT 5373/2005, [2007] SGHC 186
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Parties married | |
| Condominium bought at Meyer Road | |
| Condominium at Meyer Road sold en bloc | |
| Flat in Elmira Heights purchased | |
| Decree nisi granted | |
| Respondent re-joined UOB Kay Hian as a remisier | |
| Valuation of Elmira Heights property | |
| Completion of en bloc sale of Elmira Heights expected | |
| Judgment issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Child Custody
- Outcome: Custody, care, and control of the children granted to the petitioner with supervised access for the respondent.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance of Child
- Outcome: Lump sum maintenance ordered for the children.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance of Wife
- Outcome: Lump sum maintenance ordered for the wife.
- Category: Substantive
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Outcome: Matrimonial home to be divided equally after CPF contributions deducted.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Custody of children
- Supervised access
- Maintenance for wife
- Maintenance for children
- Division of matrimonial assets
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Law
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
- Matrimonial assets
- Central Provident Fund
- En bloc sale
- Supervised access
- Lump sum maintenance
15.2 Keywords
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Child Custody
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance
- Singapore
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets
- Child Custody
- Maintenance
17. Areas of Law
- Family Law
- Custody
- Maintenance
- Division of Matrimonial Assets