UDS v UDR: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Child Maintenance Dispute

In the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, the case of UDS v UDR involved an appeal by UDS against the decision of the court below regarding the division of matrimonial assets and child maintenance following a divorce. The High Court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, partially allowed the appeal, adjusting the division of matrimonial assets to account for a concealed asset and ordering UDR to pay $800 per month in child maintenance.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court

1.2 Outcome

Appeal allowed in part.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Appeal regarding division of matrimonial assets and child maintenance. The court adjusted the asset division and ordered the respondent to pay child maintenance.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
UDSAppellant, DefendantIndividualAppeal allowed in partPartial
UDRRespondent, PlaintiffIndividualRespondent to pay maintenancePartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Gill Carrie KaurEversheds Harry Elias LLP
Yoon Min JooEversheds Harry Elias LLP
Phoebe Sim Shi HuiEversheds Harry Elias LLP
Vinit ChhabraVinit Chhabra Partnership

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married for 13 years before separating in 2013.
  2. The appellant was a director of a technology company and is now a freelance consultant.
  3. The respondent was primarily a homemaker and is now a consultant.
  4. The parties have two sons, aged 10 and 14.
  5. The appellant transferred $1.2m from the sale of matrimonial property into a joint account with his father without the respondent's knowledge.
  6. The appellant could not account for $81,000 of the $1.2m.
  7. The respondent was awarded a higher than usual ratio for her indirect contributions.

5. Formal Citations

  1. UDS v UDR, HCF/District Court Appeal No 55 of 2017, [2018] SGHCF 3

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Marriage broke down
Respondent left the matrimonial home
HCF/District Court Appeal No 55 of 2017 filed
HCF/Summons 377 of 2017 filed
Hearing date
Hearing date
Judgment reserved
Summons 24 of 2018 filed
Summons 26 of 2018 filed

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court adjusted the division of matrimonial assets to account for the appellant's concealment of $81,000.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Concealment of assets
      • Indirect contributions
      • Needs of children
  2. Child Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered the respondent to pay $800 per month as maintenance for the children.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of matrimonial assets
  2. Child maintenance

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Child Support

11. Industries

  • Technology

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial assets
  • Indirect contributions
  • Adverse inference
  • Child maintenance
  • Parental responsibility

15.2 Keywords

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

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets90
Maintenance85
Child Support80
Evidence50
Civil Procedure30

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Asset Division
  • Child Support