UFE v UFF: Division of Matrimonial Assets in Long-Term Marriage

In the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, Judicial Commissioner Foo Tuat Yien presided over the divorce proceedings between UFE (Wife) and UFF (Husband), concerning the division of matrimonial assets following a 21-year marriage. The court considered the wife's role as a homemaker versus the husband's claims of her business involvement, as well as the husband's non-disclosure of assets. The court awarded the wife 45% of the matrimonial assets.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Family Justice Courts of the republic of singapore

1.2 Outcome

Wife awarded 45% of the matrimonial assets.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Singapore court judgment on division of matrimonial assets after a 21-year marriage, focusing on the wife's role as homemaker and the husband's non-disclosure of assets.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
UFEPlaintiffIndividualAwarded 45% of matrimonial assetsPartial
UFFDefendantIndividualRetained 55% of matrimonial assetsPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Foo Tuat YienJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Gurmeet Kaur d/o Amar SinghHarjeet Singh & Co
Sarbrinder Singh s/o Naranjan SinghSanders Law LLC

4. Facts

  1. The Husband and Wife were married for 21 years.
  2. The Wife stopped working in 1999 to care for their son and manage the household.
  3. The Husband set up a business, CFPL, in 2003, and the Wife was a director in name only.
  4. The Husband purchased several properties during the marriage, some jointly with his brothers.
  5. The Husband took out a Mortgage One loan for personal use, secured on the matrimonial home, but did not initially disclose it.
  6. The Husband under-declared his income in his affidavits of assets and means.
  7. The Husband failed to disclose several bank accounts.

5. Formal Citations

  1. UFE v UFF, Divorce Transfer No 1997 of 2013, [2017] SGHCF 28

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Husband and Wife married
Wife left her job as a legal secretary
Parties adopted a son
Wife appointed as a director of CFPL
CFPL was set up
Husband purchased UJ unit with his brothers
Husband co-owned MS unit with his brothers
Wife moved out of the matrimonial bedroom
Husband opened SCB E-Saver account
Wife replaced as director of CFPL
Bank facility letter for Mortgage One loan issued
Husband settled outstanding mortgage loan of F Road flat
Wife filed for divorce
Date of BL SPA
Maybank Islamic approved loan for Husband's purchase of BL property
JDI units sold
Husband's share in net sale proceeds of JDI units deposited into Joint SCB account
Interim Judgment granted
Hearing of the ancillary matters commenced
Orders made on ancillary matters
Grounds of decision issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court awarded the wife 45% of the matrimonial assets, taking into account her role as a homemaker, the husband's non-disclosure, and the need to avoid double counting.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Valuation of assets
      • Husband's non-disclosure of assets
      • Wife's direct and indirect contributions
    • Related Cases:
      • [2015] 4 SLR 1043
      • [2017] 1 SLR 609
      • [2000] 1 SLR(R) 908
      • [2012] 3 SLR 402
  2. Wife's role in CFPL
    • Outcome: The court found that the wife was a director in name only, and that her primary role was that of a homemaker.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Husband's non-disclosure of assets
    • Outcome: The court found that the husband had deliberately failed to disclose the Mortgage One loan account and other assets.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Maintenance for the Wife
  3. Care and Control of the son
  4. Maintenance for the son

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Asset Division

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
ANJ v ANKCourt of AppealYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited for the approach to be taken in deciding the division of assets where the wife had been working during the earlier part of the marriage but not the later and larger part of the marriage.
TNL v TNK and another appeal and another matterUnknownYes[2017] 1 SLR 609SingaporeCited for the approach to be taken in deciding the division of assets where the wife had been working during the earlier part of the marriage but not the later and larger part of the marriage.
Ang Teng Siong v Lee Su MinUnknownNo[2000] 1 SLR(R) 908SingaporeCited for the principle that the onus is on the party alleging that the asset was a gift to show that it originated from the generosity of a third party in order to prevent it from being divided upon divorce.
Chan Yuen Boey v Sia Hee SoonUnknownNo[2012] 3 SLR 402SingaporeCited for the proportion awarded to homemaker wives who had made modest financial contribution to marriages lasting 17 to 35 years with children.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Companies Act (Cap 50, 1994 Rev Ed)Singapore
Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 2009 Rev Ed)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Homemaker
  • Non-disclosure
  • Mortgage One loan
  • CFPL
  • D Road property
  • Joint SCB account
  • Interim Judgment
  • Director's fees

15.2 Keywords

  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Singapore
  • Family Law
  • Asset Division
  • Homemaker
  • Non-disclosure

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets95
Divorce90
Division of Assets80
Maintenance70
Child Custody60
Child Support60
Disclosure of Assets50
Evidence40
Contract Law30
Civil Procedure30
Legal Profession Act20
Solicitor's fees20

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Division of Assets
  • Matrimonial Assets