VSX v VSY: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Child Maintenance in Divorce
In the divorce case of *VSX v VSY*, the Singapore High Court (Family Division) addressed the division of matrimonial assets and child maintenance. The Husband, VSX, sought a judgment on ancillary matters for enforcement in India, while the Wife, VSY, remained absent. The court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, made no order regarding the division of matrimonial assets due to insufficient evidence of their value, as the wife and children reside in India where most of the assets are located. The court granted joint custody of the children, with liberty for the Husband to apply for care and control.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court (Family Division)1.2 Outcome
No order made in relation to the division of matrimonial assets; joint custody granted with liberty to apply for care and control.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Singapore court addresses division of matrimonial assets and child maintenance in a divorce case where the wife is absent and residing in India.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VSX | Plaintiff | Individual | Joint custody granted with liberty to apply for care and control | Partial | Cheong Siao Ling Cheryl, Sara Binte Abdul Aziz |
| VSY | Defendant | Individual | No order made in relation to the division of matrimonial assets | Neutral |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Cheong Siao Ling Cheryl | Gloria James-Civetta & Co |
| Sara Binte Abdul Aziz | Gloria James-Civetta & Co |
4. Facts
- The Husband and Wife were married on 24 August 2005 in India.
- The Husband filed for divorce in Singapore on 5 June 2020.
- The Wife returned to India with the Children on 18 November 2019.
- The Husband was granted an Interim Custody, Care and Control Order in January 2020.
- The Husband seeks a judgment on the ancillary matters for enforcement in India.
- The Wife did not enter appearance and remained absent throughout the entire proceedings.
- The Husband was the Chief Information Security Officer of [D] Pte Ltd, drawing an average monthly income of $25,000.
5. Formal Citations
- VSXvVSY, Divorce (Transferred) No 2075 of 2020, [2021] SGHCF 20
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Marriage of the Husband and Wife in India | |
| Wife returned to India with the Children | |
| Husband granted an Interim Custody, Care and Control Order | |
| Husband filed for divorce in Singapore | |
| Interim judgment granted | |
| Judgment reserved | |
| Judgment issued |
7. Legal Issues
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Outcome: The court made no order in relation to the division of matrimonial assets due to insufficient evidence of their value.
- Category: Substantive
- Child Maintenance
- Outcome: The court granted joint custody but made no order on care and control for now but with liberty to the Husband to apply.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Child Maintenance
9. Cause of Actions
- Divorce
10. Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Law
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 2009 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Matrimonial Assets
- Interim Custody, Care and Control Order
- Joint Custody
- Division of Assets
- Ancillary Matters
15.2 Keywords
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Matrimonial Assets
- Child Custody
- Singapore
- High Court
- Absent Wife
- India
- Enforcement
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Matrimonial Assets
- Child Custody
17. Areas of Law
- Family Law
- Matrimonial Assets
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance
- Child Maintenance