UNE v UNF: Division of Matrimonial Assets in Long Marriage

In the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, the case of UNE v UNF involved the division of matrimonial assets following a divorce after a marriage of almost 30 years. The court, presided over by Judge Debbie Ong, ordered an equal division of the matrimonial assets, valued at $21,303,422.66, between the Wife and the Husband. The court considered the direct and indirect contributions of both parties, ultimately determining that an equal division was just and equitable.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Family Justice Courts of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Matrimonial assets to be divided equally between the parties.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Division of matrimonial assets in a long marriage. The court ordered an equal division of the assets between the parties.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
UNEPlaintiffIndividualEqual division of matrimonial assetsPartial
UNFDefendantIndividualEqual division of matrimonial assetsPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Debbie OngJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Foo Soon YienBR Law Corporation
See Chern YangPremier Law LLC

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married on 16 October 1987 and have two adult children.
  2. The Wife left the matrimonial home in October 2015 and filed for divorce on 19 April 2016.
  3. The Interim Judgment of Divorce was granted on 28 June 2016.
  4. The Wife stopped working in 2006 and became a homemaker.
  5. The total net value of the matrimonial assets was found to be $21,303,422.66.
  6. The Toh Crescent property was held by the Husband, the Wife and the Husband’s brother as tenants in common in unequal shares.
  7. The parties agreed to take the balances in the bank accounts as at 31 March 2017.

5. Formal Citations

  1. UNE v UNF, Divorce (Transferred) No 1855 of 2016, [2018] SGHCF 12

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married
Wife stopped working
Wife left the matrimonial home
Writ for Divorce filed
Interim Judgment of Divorce granted
Joint summary filed by Husband
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court ordered an equal division of the matrimonial assets between the parties.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2018] 1 SLR 1015
      • [2015] 4 SLR 1043
      • [2017] 1 SLR 609
      • [2017] 4 SLR 921
      • [2017] 4 SLR 799
      • [2007] 3 SLR(R) 743
  2. Third Party Claims on Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court addressed the issue of a third party's claim on a share of the matrimonial asset, following the principles set out in UDA v UDB.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2018] 1 SLR 1015

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Maintenance for Wife
  3. Maintenance for Children

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce
  • Division of Matrimonial Assets

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Asset Division

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
UDA v UDB and anotherCourt of AppealYes[2018] 1 SLR 1015SingaporeCited for the principle that the court does not have the power to adjudicate a third party’s claim to an alleged matrimonial asset or make orders against the third party in respect of that asset.
ANJ v ANKUnknownYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited for the structured approach to determine the just and equitable division of matrimonial assets.
TNL v TNK and another appeal and another matterCourt of AppealYes[2017] 1 SLR 609SingaporeCited to distinguish between Single-Income and Dual-Income Marriages and the applicability of the ANJ structured approach.
UBM v UBNUnknownYes[2017] 4 SLR 921SingaporeCited to support the applicability of the ANJ structured approach to Dual-Income Marriages.
TXW v TXXUnknownYes[2017] 4 SLR 799SingaporeCited to support the principle that parties to a functioning marriage do not keep records of their transactions with a view to building a case should a divorce occur.
NK v NLUnknownYes[2007] 3 SLR(R) 743SingaporeCited for the ideology of marriage as an equal co-operative partnership of efforts.

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
  • Dual-Income Marriage
  • Direct Contributions
  • Indirect Contributions
  • ANJ Structured Approach
  • Homemaker
  • Interim Judgment of Divorce

15.2 Keywords

  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Asset Division
  • Family Law
  • Singapore

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets95
Matrimonial Assets Division90
Division of Property85
Women’s Charter70
Civil Procedure30

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Asset Division