VLO v VLP: Child Relocation, Custody, and Access Dispute in Singapore Family Law
In the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, Judge Choo Han Teck presided over District Court Appeals 39 and 41 of 2021, involving VLO (Father) and VLP (Mother). The appeals concerned the District Judge's orders for shared care and control of their child, dismissal of the Mother's relocation application to Taiwan, division of matrimonial assets, and maintenance for the child and Mother. The Father appealed against the financial orders, while the Mother appealed to relocate the child to Taiwan and to have sole care and control of the child. The court dismissed both appeals, upholding the original orders.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court (Family Division)1.2 Outcome
Both appeals dismissed.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Judgment
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Singapore court case involving VLO and VLP concerning child relocation to Taiwan, custody, and access, with the court dismissing both appeals.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLO | Appellant, Respondent | Individual | Appeal dismissed | Lost | Teo Jin Huang |
| VLP | Appellant, Respondent | Individual | Appeal dismissed | Lost | Poh Jun Zhe Malcus |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Teo Jin Huang | Rajen Law Practice |
| Poh Jun Zhe Malcus | Chung Ting Fai & Co |
4. Facts
- The Father is a Chinese national working in Singapore.
- The Mother is from Taiwan and was a full-time homemaker.
- The parties have one child, born on 26 May 2017 in Singapore.
- The writ of divorce was filed on 2 August 2019.
- The Father has been a permanent resident in Singapore since 2015.
- The Mother has a Long-Term Visit Pass based on the Child’s student’s pass.
- The Child is well-settled in Singapore and attends pre-school.
5. Formal Citations
- VLOvVLP and another appeal, , [2021] SGHCF 34
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Child born in Singapore. | |
| Writ of divorce filed. | |
| Maintenance for the Mother starts. | |
| Judgment reserved. | |
| Judgment reserved. | |
| Judgment issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Child Relocation
- Outcome: The court dismissed the Mother's appeal to relocate the child to Taiwan, finding it not in the child's best interest.
- Category: Substantive
- Child Custody
- Outcome: The court dismissed the Mother's appeal to change the care and control arrangement, given that the Child has adjusted to the current arrangement.
- Category: Substantive
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Outcome: The court found no error in the District Judge's judgment regarding the pool of matrimonial assets.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance for Mother
- Outcome: The court dismissed the Father's appeal in relation to the maintenance for the Mother.
- Category: Substantive
- Maintenance for Child
- Outcome: The court found no basis to put a cap of $500 on the amount to be spent on the Child’s enrichment classes.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Relocation of Child to Taiwan
- Sole Care and Control of Child
- Division of Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance for Mother
- Maintenance for Child
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Family Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UFZ v UFY | Singapore Family High Court | Yes | [2018] SFHCF 8 | Singapore | Cited for the principle of balancing the caretaker's desire to relocate against the child's loss of relationship with the left-behind parent. |
| UYK v UYJ | Unknown | Yes | [2020] 5 SLR 772 | Singapore | Cited to illustrate how courts have decided on relocation applications based on the specific facts of each case. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Women’s Charter (Cap 353, 2009 Rev Ed) | Singapore |
| s 112(2)(b) of the Women’s Charter | Singapore |
| s 94 of the Women’s Charter | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Relocation
- Care and Control
- Matrimonial Assets
- Maintenance
- Best Interest of the Child
- Long-Term Visit Pass
15.2 Keywords
- Family Justice Courts
- Singapore
- Divorce
- Child
- Relocation
- Custody
- Access
- Maintenance
- Matrimonial Assets
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Child Custody
- Relocation
17. Areas of Law
- Family Law
- Child Custody
- Relocation Law