WFE v WFF: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Children's Maintenance Dispute

In the divorce case of *WFE v WFF*, the Family Division of the High Court of Singapore, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, addressed the division of matrimonial assets and children's maintenance. The court included the Wife's CDP account in the matrimonial pool, assessed direct and indirect contributions, and ordered a division of assets with the Wife receiving 59.63% and the Husband 40.37%. The court also ordered the Husband to pay $3,000.00 monthly for the children's maintenance.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Family Justice Courts of the republic of singapore

1.2 Outcome

Orders made for division of matrimonial assets and children's maintenance.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Divorce case concerning the division of matrimonial assets, including a CDP account and property, and children's maintenance. The court determined the asset division and maintenance.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
WFEPlaintiffIndividualEntitled to 59.63% of the matrimonial assetsPartial
WFFDefendantIndividualEntitled to 40.37% of the matrimonial assetsPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Wong Soo ChihSC Wong Law Chambers LLC
Juliana HoSC Wong Law Chambers LLC
Kulvinder KaurI.R.B Law LLP
Marina SaniI.R.B Law LLP

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married on 28 June 1997 and the Wife filed for divorce on 4 December 2020.
  2. The Wife works as a locum doctor at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.
  3. The Husband was a Major at the Singapore Armed Forces but retired in 2008 and became a homemaker.
  4. The parties have three sons, aged 22, 19 and 16 respectively.
  5. The Wife's CDP Account No ending 5068, valued at $3,007,166.98, was disputed as to whether it should be included in the matrimonial assets.
  6. The Toh Tuck Property was purchased on 25 March 2012 for $3,200,000.00 and used as the parties’ matrimonial home.
  7. The parties disagreed on their direct contributions to the joint CDP Account No ending 5239 and the Husband’s Great Eastern Insurance Policy.

5. Formal Citations

  1. WFE v WFF, Divorce (Transferred) No 5533 of 2020, [2022] SGHCF 15

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married
Wife filed for divorce
Interim judgment granted
Hearing date
Hearing date
Judgment reserved

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court included the Wife's CDP account in the matrimonial pool and determined the parties' direct and indirect contributions to the matrimonial assets, ultimately ordering a division of assets with the Wife receiving 59.63% and the Husband 40.37%.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Related Cases:
      • [2020] 2 SLR 588
  2. Children's Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered the Husband to pay $3,000.00 per month for the children's maintenance.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Children's Maintenance

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Asset Division

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
USB v USA and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2020] 2 SLR 588SingaporeCited for the principle that the party asserting an asset is not a matrimonial asset bears the burden to prove it on a balance of probabilities.
Ang Teng Siong v Lee Su MinHigh CourtYes[2000] 1 SLR(R) 90SingaporeCited regarding tracing parties’ contribution to property instead of dividing funds equally on the basis that the property was jointly owned.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Women’s Charter 1961Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Direct Financial Contributions
  • Indirect Financial Contributions
  • Children's Maintenance
  • CDP Account
  • Toh Tuck Property
  • Inheritance

15.2 Keywords

  • divorce
  • matrimonial assets
  • children's maintenance
  • family law
  • asset division

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets90
Division of Family Assets90
Maintenance85
Child Support70
Child Custody60

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Children's Maintenance