UZR v UZS: Division of Matrimonial Assets, Child & Wife Maintenance in Long Marriage Divorce

In the divorce case of UZR v UZS and UZT, the High Court (Family Division) of Singapore, presided over by Judicial Commissioner Tan Puay Boon, addressed the division of matrimonial assets, maintenance for the youngest child, and maintenance for the wife. The interim judgment was granted on 13 February 2018, and the final judgment was delivered on 19 December 2019. The court determined a 47:53 asset division ratio between the husband and wife, ordered both parties to contribute to their youngest child's university expenses, and declined to award maintenance to the wife.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court (Family Division)

1.2 Outcome

Matrimonial assets distributed 47:53 between Husband and Wife. No maintenance ordered for the Wife. Parties to share costs of child's university expenses.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Divorce case involving division of matrimonial assets, child maintenance, and wife maintenance after a 35-year marriage. The court determined the asset division ratio and addressed maintenance.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
UZRPlaintiffIndividualPartialPartial
UZSDefendantIndividualPartialPartial
UZTDefendantIndividualNeutralNeutral

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Tan Puay BoonJudicial CommissionerYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Lee Ming Hui KelvinWNLEX LLC
Ong Xin Ying SamanthaWNLEX LLC
Yeo Kan Kiang RoySterling Law Corporation

4. Facts

  1. The plaintiff wife and the defendant husband were married on 24 January 1983.
  2. Interim judgment was granted on 13 February 2018.
  3. The Wife filed a writ for divorce on 2 August 2017.
  4. There are four adult children to the marriage.
  5. The parties separated in around January 2017 after the Wife discovered evidence of the Husband’s recent affair with the co-defendant in December 2016.
  6. The Husband failed to provide meaningful substantiation of his income in China.
  7. The Husband failed to properly account for the sale proceeds of the Thomson Property.

5. Formal Citations

  1. UZR v UZS and another, Divorce (Transferred) No 3580 of 2017, [2019] SGHCF 28

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Marriage occurred
Writ for divorce filed
Interim judgment granted
Ancillary matters hearing
Updated joint summary of relevant information dated
Hearing occurred
Judgment reserved

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court determined a 47:53 asset division ratio between the husband and wife.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2007] 3 SLR(R) 743
      • [2015] 4 SLR 1043
      • [2017] 4 SLR 799
      • [2018] 2 SLR 1370
      • [2019] 1 SLR 608
  2. Maintenance for Child
    • Outcome: The court ordered both parties to contribute to their youngest child's university expenses, but left it to them to agree on the amounts of such maintenance.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Maintenance for Wife
    • Outcome: The court declined to award maintenance to the wife.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2015] 4 SLR 1274
  4. Adverse Inferences
    • Outcome: The court drew an adverse inference against the Husband for his failure to make full disclosure of his income and assets.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Related Cases:
      • [2019] 1 SLR 608

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of matrimonial assets
  2. Maintenance for the youngest child
  3. Maintenance for the Wife
  4. Costs

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Matrimonial Law

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
NK v NLUnknownYes[2007] 3 SLR(R) 743SingaporeCited for the four distinct phases of the global assessment methodology for division of matrimonial assets.
TXW v TXXUnknownYes[2017] 4 SLR 799SingaporeCited to support the position that parties to a functioning marriage do not keep records of their transactions with a view to building a case should a divorce occur.
BPC v BPB and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2019] 1 SLR 608SingaporeCited for the law on adverse inferences.
ANJ v ANKUnknownYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited for the structured approach to determine the division of matrimonial assets.
BON and others v BOQCourt of AppealYes[2018] 2 SLR 1370SingaporeCited for guidance on determining whether funds from a parent were intended as a gift to one party alone or to both parties.
UBM v UBNHigh CourtYes[2017] 4 SLR 921SingaporeCited to support the position that the court is not bound to adjust the average ratio only by according different weightages to the direct and indirect contributions.
AVM v AWHHigh CourtYes[2015] 4 SLR 1274SingaporeCited to support the position that it would be relevant to consider the Wife’s financial resources in determining whether maintenance should be ordered and in what quantum.

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
  • Global assessment methodology
  • Direct financial contributions
  • Indirect contributions
  • Adverse inference
  • Maintenance
  • Division ratio

15.2 Keywords

  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Child Maintenance
  • Wife Maintenance
  • Family Law
  • Singapore
  • High Court
  • Division of Assets

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Matrimonial Assets95
Family Law95
Maintenance90
Maintenance (Child)85
Maintenance (Wife)80
Divorce75
Child Support70
Division of Matrimonial Property65

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance