UGG v UGH (M.W.): Division of Matrimonial Assets and Wife's Maintenance under Women's Charter

In the divorce case of UGG v UGH (M.W.) before the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, Foo Tuat Yien JC addressed ancillary matters concerning the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance for the wife. The court ordered the husband to pay the wife $1,655,867 as her share of the matrimonial assets, while denying the wife's request for maintenance, considering her earning capacity and the husband's responsibility for the children's maintenance.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Family Justice Courts of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Appeal dismissed; orders made for division of matrimonial assets and no maintenance for the wife.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Divorce case concerning division of matrimonial assets and wife's maintenance. The court ordered the husband to pay the wife $1,655,867 and denied wife's maintenance.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
UGGPlaintiffIndividualOrders made for division of matrimonial assets and no maintenance for the wife.Neutral
UGH (M.W.)DefendantIndividualAppeal dismissed; orders made for division of matrimonial assets and no maintenance for the wife.Lost

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Foo Tuat YienJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Khwaja Imran HamidTan Rajah & Cheah
Lucinda Lim LixiaTan Rajah & Cheah
Avery ChongChia-Thomas Law Chambers LLC

4. Facts

  1. Parties married on 7 December 2002 and separated on 1 January 2012.
  2. The Husband filed for divorce on 10 April 2015 based on three-year separation.
  3. The Wife worked full-time, part-time, and took no-pay leave during the marriage.
  4. The Husband was the Chief Executive Officer of a major transport service provider.
  5. The Wife worked part-time as a Principal Counsellor at a charity.
  6. The matrimonial home was sold for $2.65m with net sales proceeds of $1,276,191.83.
  7. The net value of the matrimonial pool was ascertained at $7,023,500.

5. Formal Citations

  1. UGG v UGH (M.W.), Divorce (Transferred) No 1459 of 2015, [2017] SGHCF 25

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married in Singapore.
Parties separated.
Parties attempted reconciliation.
Reconciliation attempt failed.
Husband filed for divorce.
Interim judgment granted.
Ancillary matters hearing.
Parties filed revised Joint Summary of relevant assets.
Orders made on division of matrimonial assets and maintenance.
Judgment Date

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court ordered the husband to pay the wife $1,655,867 as her share of the matrimonial assets.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2015] 4 SLR 1043
      • [2015] SGCA 52
      • [2017] 1 SLR 609
      • [2012] SGHC 92
  2. Wife's Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered that there be no maintenance for the wife.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Maintenance for Wife

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Matrimonial Asset Division

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
ANJ v ANKCourt of AppealYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited for the structured approach to division of matrimonial assets.
Twiss, Christopher James Hans v Twiss, Yvonne PrendergastSingapore Court of AppealYes[2015] SGCA 52SingaporeCited for summarising the structured approach in ANJ v ANK.
TNL v TNK and another appeal and another matterCourt of AppealYes[2017] 1 SLR 609SingaporeConsidered for different approaches to division of matrimonial assets in single-income and dual-income families.
Chan Yuen Boey v Sia Hee SoonHigh CourtYes[2012] SGHC 92SingaporeCited for the proportion of matrimonial assets awarded to homemaker wives.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 2009 Rev Ed)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Division of Assets
  • Wife Maintenance
  • Structured Approach
  • Direct Contributions
  • Indirect Contributions
  • Matrimonial Pool

15.2 Keywords

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

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Matrimonial Assets95
Family Law95
Maintenance (Wife)90
Division of Matrimonial Assets90
Maintenance85
Access to Children50
Child Support50
Child Custody50

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance