UVF v UVG: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Wife's Maintenance in Divorce

In the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, Judicial Commissioner Tan Puay Boon presided over the divorce case between UVF (the Wife) and UVG (the Husband), concerning the division of matrimonial assets and the Wife's maintenance. The court ordered a distribution of the matrimonial assets in the proportion of 62.5:37.5 between the Husband and the Wife, with the Husband to transfer $3,180,951.32 to the Wife within six months. The court did not award maintenance to the Wife.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Family Justice Courts of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Distribution of matrimonial assets ordered; no maintenance awarded to the wife.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Singapore court case involving UVF and UVG, addressing the division of matrimonial assets and the wife's maintenance after a 26-year marriage.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
UVFPlaintiffIndividualReceived 37.5% of matrimonial assetsPartial
UVGDefendantIndividualRetained 62.5% of matrimonial assetsPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Tan Puay BoonJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Helen Chia-ThomasKeystone Law Corporation
Chan Yu XinWongPartnership LLP
Sim Bock EngWongPartnership LLP
Celeste TanWongPartnership LLP

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married in 1992 and separated on 15 December 2016.
  2. The Wife filed for divorce on 12 January 2017, and the Husband filed a counterclaim on 6 February 2017.
  3. Interim judgment was granted on 20 April 2018, ending a marriage of 26 years.
  4. The Wife stopped working in 1998, and the Husband retired at the age of 49.
  5. The parties lived in the Husband’s mother’s home for the first six years of their marriage.
  6. The parties moved to their first matrimonial home in 1998 and to the Keppel Property in 2004.
  7. The total value of the matrimonial assets was determined to be $14,497,158.19.

5. Formal Citations

  1. UVF v UVG, Divorce (Transferred) No 140 of 2017, [2019] SGHCF 21

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married in Singapore
Parties moved to their first matrimonial home
Parties moved to the Keppel Property
Parties separated
Wife filed for divorce
Husband filed a counterclaim for divorce
Interim judgment granted
Ancillary matters hearing
Judgment reserved

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court ordered a division of the matrimonial assets in the proportions of 62.5:37.5 between the Husband and the Wife.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2007] 3 SLR(R) 743
      • [2016] 2 SLR 686
      • [2017] SGCA 34
  2. Maintenance for Wife
    • Outcome: The court did not award maintenance to the Wife.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2016] SGCA 2
  3. Wrongful Dissipation of Assets
    • Outcome: The court added a sum of $40,000.00 to the matrimonial pool against the Wife for wrongful dissipation.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2017] 1 SLR 609
      • [2010] 4 SLR 617

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Maintenance for Wife

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Asset Division

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
NK v NLCourt of AppealYes[2007] 3 SLR(R) 743SingaporeCited for the four-phase global assessment methodology for division of matrimonial assets.
ARY v ARX and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2016] 2 SLR 686SingaporeCited for the principle that the date of interim judgment is the starting position for the date of identification of matrimonial assets.
TND v TNC and another appealSingapore Court of AppealYes[2017] SGCA 34SingaporeCited for the principle that the starting point for the date of the valuation of the matrimonial assets is the date of the ancillary matters hearing.
Chen Siew Hwee v Low Kee Guan (Wong Yong Yee, co-respondent)High CourtYes[2006] 4 SLR(R) 605SingaporeCited for the interpretation of 'matrimonial asset' under s 112(10) of the Women's Charter, particularly regarding gifts and inheritances.
Koh Kim Lan Angela v Choong Kian Haw and another appealCourt of AppealYes[1993] 3 SLR(R) 491SingaporeCited regarding substantial improvement of an asset during the marriage by the non-donee spouse.
BPC v BPB and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2019] 1 SLR 608SingaporeCited regarding the court's reluctance to adopt a valuation date other than the IJ and AM dates.
TNL v TNK and another appeal and another matterCourt of AppealYes[2017] 1 SLR 609SingaporeCited for guidelines on dealing with substantial sums expended by one spouse during divorce proceedings.
AJR v AJSHigh CourtYes[2010] 4 SLR 617SingaporeCited regarding the court's discretion to account for wasteful dissipation of matrimonial assets.
ANJ v ANKCourt of AppealYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited for the structured approach in dividing matrimonial assets.
TYU v TYVHigh Court (Family Division)Yes[2017] SGHCF 8SingaporeCited for explaining the steps involved in the structured ANJ approach.
UBM v UBNHigh CourtYes[2017] 4 SLR 921SingaporeCited for the definition of a 'Single-Income Marriage'.
Yow Mee Lan v Chen Kai BuanHigh CourtYes[2000] 2 SLR(R) 659SingaporeCited as an example of a long Single-Income Marriage.
BOR v BOS and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2018] SGCA 78SingaporeCited for precedents involving long Single-Income Marriages and division of matrimonial assets.
Woon Wee Lee v Koh Ai HuaHigh CourtYes[2012] SGHC 128SingaporeCited as a precedent for division of assets in a long marriage where the wife contributed significantly in the early years.
TXW v TXXHigh CourtYes[2017] 4 SLR 799SingaporeCited as a precedent for division of assets in a marriage where the husband was the sole breadwinner and the wife provided support at home.
UYP v UYQHigh Court (Family Division)Yes[2019] SGHCF 16SingaporeCited for the 'broad brush' approach in assessing contributions to a marriage.
Loh Swee Peng v Chan Kui KokCourt of AppealYes[2015] 3 SLR 1SingaporeCited for the principle that the length of the marriage is a highly relevant factor in the division of assets.
Pang Rosaline v Chan Kong ChinHigh CourtYes[2009] 4 SLR(R) 935SingaporeCited for the principle that the managerial role in running a household is as essential as the direct performance of chores.
ATE v ATD and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2016] SGCA 2SingaporeCited for the principle that the court's power to order maintenance plays a supplementary role to its power to order a division of matrimonial assets.
JBB v JBACourt of AppealYes[2015] 5 SLR 153SingaporeCited regarding costs in matrimonial cases.
TBZ v TCAHigh Court (Family Division)Yes[2017] SGHCF 18SingaporeCited regarding the use of the IJ date in valuing bank accounts.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Women’s CharterSingapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Division of Assets
  • Maintenance
  • Single-Income Marriage
  • Global Assessment Methodology
  • Interim Judgment Date
  • Wrongful Dissipation

15.2 Keywords

  • divorce
  • matrimonial assets
  • maintenance
  • family law
  • asset division
  • singapore

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets90
Maintenance85
Maintenance (Wife)80
Divorce75

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Asset Division
  • Maintenance