WAA v VZZ: Appeal on Custody, Access, Maintenance, and Division of Jewellery

In the Family Justice Courts of Singapore, Justice Choo Han Teck heard the appeal of WAA against VZZ regarding the District Judge's orders on custody, access, maintenance, and division of jewellery. The court upheld joint custody with care and control to the Mother, adjusted the Father's access, modified the maintenance sum, and addressed the division of jewellery. The appeal was allowed in part.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Family Justice Courts of the republic of singapore

1.2 Outcome

Appeal allowed in part.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Appeal concerning care and control, access, maintenance of children, and division of jewellery. The court upheld care and control to the Mother, adjusted access, and addressed maintenance.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
WAAAppellantIndividualAppeal allowed in partPartial
VZZRespondentIndividualOrders upheld with modificationsPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Seenivasan LalitaVirginia Quek Lalita & Partners
Lim Ying YingVirginia Quek Lalita & Partners
Rachel Hui Min De SilvaTan Rajah & Cheah
Chow Hai ManTan Rajah & Cheah

4. Facts

  1. Parties were married on 5 February 2012 and have two children, a daughter born in April 2015 and a son born in March 2017.
  2. Interim Judgment was granted on 11 January 2021.
  3. The District Judge ordered joint custody with care and control to the Mother and access to the Father on 18 October 2021.
  4. The Father appealed against the DJ’s decision on care and control, access, maintenance, and division of jewellery.
  5. The Father sought care and control of both children, or split/shared care and control.
  6. The Father requested more access time with the children.
  7. The Father sought a reduction in his share of the children’s maintenance sum.

5. Formal Citations

  1. WAA v VZZ, District Court Appeal (Family Division) No 139 of 2021, [2022] SGHCF 20

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married
Daughter A born
Son B born
Interim Judgment granted
District Judge ordered joint custody with care and control to the Mother and access to the Father
Judge interviewed the children
Judgment reserved

7. Legal Issues

  1. Care and Control of Children
    • Outcome: Care and control granted to the Mother.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Access to Children
    • Outcome: Father's access time extended.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Child Maintenance
    • Outcome: Father's share of children's maintenance sum reduced to $1,985 per month.
    • Category: Substantive
  4. Division of Jewellery
    • Outcome: Mother entitled to keep jewellery belonging to the children. Father failed to prove Mother had jewellery belonging to him.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Care and control of children
  2. Increased access to children
  3. Reduction in maintenance payments
  4. Return of jewellery

9. Cause of Actions

  • No cause of actions

10. Practice Areas

  • Family Law
  • Child Custody
  • Child Access
  • Child Maintenance

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
No cited cases

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Care and control
  • Access
  • Maintenance
  • Division of jewellery
  • Child Development Account
  • Interim Judgment

15.2 Keywords

  • family law
  • custody
  • access
  • maintenance
  • jewellery
  • children

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Child Custody90
Access to Children90
Child Support85
Maintenance80
Division of Matrimonial Assets70

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Custody
  • Child Maintenance
  • Division of Assets