BON v BOQ: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Child Maintenance for University Fees

In the Singapore Court of Appeal case of BON, BOO, and BOP v BOQ, dated 2018-10-22, the court heard an appeal regarding the division of matrimonial assets and the wife's responsibility for contributing to the children's university fees. The husband appealed the assessed contributions to the marriage, and the children appealed the decision that the wife was not required to contribute to their university expenses in the United States. The court dismissed the appeal regarding the division of matrimonial assets but allowed the appeal in part regarding the children's maintenance, ordering the wife to contribute a lump sum for their university expenses.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Court of Appeal of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Appeal allowed in part

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Ex Tempore Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Appeal concerning the division of matrimonial assets and the wife's responsibility for contributing to the children's university fees. The court partially allowed the appeal, ordering the wife to contribute to the children's university expenses.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
BONAppellantIndividualAppeal dismissed in partPartial
BOOAppellantIndividualAppeal allowed in partPartial
BOPAppellantIndividualAppeal allowed in partPartial
BOQRespondentIndividualAppeal dismissed in partPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Steven ChongJudge of AppealYes
Belinda Ang Saw EanJudgeNo
Quentin LohJudgeNo

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Wong Hur YuinWee Swee Teow LLP
Vera Koh Li JuenWee Swee Teow LLP
Yoon Min JooEversheds Harry Elias LLP
Koh Tien HuaEversheds Harry Elias LLP
Sim Shi Hui PhoebeEversheds Harry Elias LLP

4. Facts

  1. The husband and wife married in December 1990.
  2. The wife took no-pay leave to accompany the husband to the US for two years.
  3. The couple returned to Singapore in January 1993.
  4. The husband started his own company in 2004.
  5. The wife left the matrimonial property in June 2009.
  6. The husband filed divorce proceedings in August 2009.
  7. Interim judgment was granted in November 2011.

5. Formal Citations

  1. BON and others v BOQ, Civil Appeal No 210 of 2017, [2018] SGCA 68

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Husband and wife married
Couple returned to Singapore
Husband started his own company
Wife left the matrimonial property
Husband filed divorce proceedings
Interim judgment granted
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court upheld the Judge's ratios and order for the equal division of the matrimonial assets.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Direct contributions
      • Indirect contributions
  2. Child Maintenance for University Fees
    • Outcome: The court found that the wife should be partially responsible for the children’s university expenses and ordered her to contribute a lump sum.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2006] 1 SLR(R) 416

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of matrimonial assets
  2. Maintenance for children's university fees

9. Cause of Actions

  • No cause of actions

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Appeals

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Twiss, Christopher James Hans v Twiss, Yvonne PrendergastCourt of AppealYes[2015] SGCA 52SingaporeCited to show an example of dividing the marriage up into two periods with different ratios.
Wong Ser Wan v Ng Cheong LingN/AYes[2006] 1 SLR(R) 416SingaporeCited to contend that although maintenance may be necessary for the child’s education, “this does not mean… that the child may prolong his education and take degree after degree and insist on being maintained”.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

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

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial assets
  • Direct contributions
  • Indirect contributions
  • University expenses
  • Child maintenance

15.2 Keywords

  • matrimonial assets
  • child maintenance
  • university fees
  • divorce
  • family law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets90
Maintenance85
Child Support80
Divorce50

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Asset Division
  • Child Support