ANH v ANI: Child Maintenance Variation for University Education

In ANH v ANI, the High Court of Singapore addressed the variation of a child maintenance order. The father, ANH, sought to reduce his maintenance payments for his 19-year-old daughter, who is attending Monash University. The mother, ANI, requested an increase. Justice Choo Han Teck ordered the father to pay S$35,000 per annum for the daughter's university expenses until graduation, with the balance to be borne by the mother.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

The father is ordered to pay S$35,000 per annum for the daughter's university expenses until graduation, with the balance to be borne by the mother.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

High Court judgment on varying child maintenance order for daughter's university education, considering parents' changed financial circumstances and daughter's needs.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
ANHPlaintiffIndividualPartialPartial
ANIDefendantIndividualPartialPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Carrie Kaur GillEversheds Harry Elias LLP
Clement YapEversheds Harry Elias LLP

4. Facts

  1. The father was previously ordered to pay S$2,500 per month for the daughter's maintenance.
  2. The daughter is now 19 years old and attending Monash University in Australia.
  3. The father has remarried and has a new family.
  4. The mother's income has increased from S$150,000 to S$233,000 per year.
  5. The father earns S$500,000 a year.
  6. The daughter is estranged from the father.

5. Formal Citations

  1. ANH v ANI, Divorce (Transferred) No 3521 of 2012(Summonses Nos 1149 and 1832 of 2019), [2019] SGHC 170

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Original maintenance order issued, requiring the father to pay S$2,500 per month plus school fees, medical expenses, and music examination fees.
Father remarried.
Daughter enrolled in Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
Judgment reserved.
Judgment issued.

7. Legal Issues

  1. Variation of Child Maintenance Order
    • Outcome: The court varied the original maintenance order, setting the father's contribution at S$35,000 per annum.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Change in circumstances
      • Competing financial obligations

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Variation of maintenance order

9. Cause of Actions

  • No cause of actions

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law

11. Industries

  • Education

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

  • Child maintenance
  • Variation order
  • University education
  • Change in circumstances
  • Competing obligations

15.2 Keywords

  • divorce
  • child maintenance
  • university
  • education
  • family law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Child Support90
Maintenance90
Children's Maintenance90
Divorce80
Matrimonial Proceedings70

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Child Support
  • Divorce