WLI v WLJ: Child Access and Maintenance Dispute in Divorce Proceedings
In the divorce case of WLI v WLJ, the Family Division of the High Court in Singapore, presided over by Justice Kwek Mean Luck, addressed ancillary matters concerning the two children of the marriage. The court heard arguments regarding the husband's weekend access to the children and the amount of monthly maintenance he should pay. The court ultimately decided to maintain the existing weekend access arrangement and ordered the husband to pay $14,708.29 per month for the children's maintenance.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
Family Justice Courts of the Republic of Singapore1.2 Outcome
Orders made on child access and maintenance; Husband's appeal dismissed.
1.3 Case Type
Family
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Divorce case concerning child access and maintenance. The court addressed weekend access hours and the monthly maintenance amount.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WLI | Plaintiff | Individual | Orders made in her favor regarding child access and maintenance. | Partial | Kyle Leslie Sim Siang Chun |
| WLJ | Defendant | Individual | Appeal dismissed. | Lost | Chan Yu Xin, Heidi Ngo, Ashley Poh Shiyun |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Kwek Mean Luck | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Kyle Leslie Sim Siang Chun | Engarde Legal LLC |
| Chan Yu Xin | WongPartnership LLP |
| Heidi Ngo | WongPartnership LLP |
| Ashley Poh Shiyun | WongPartnership LLP |
4. Facts
- The plaintiff and defendant were married on 8 April 2015 and have two children born in 2015 and 2017.
- The Wife commenced divorce proceedings on 13 January 2020, and Interim Judgment was granted on 17 September 2020.
- The Husband appealed against the weekend access hours and the monthly maintenance amount.
- The Husband consistently received dividends of $606,000 per annum since 2016.
- The Wife played the role of the Children’s primary caregiver and did not have the help of a domestic helper or her family.
- The Wife was unemployed and intended to look for employment once the younger child reached school-going age.
- The Children were attending various enrichment classes on weekday afternoons.
5. Formal Citations
- WLI v WLJ, Divorce (Transferred) No 176 of 2020, [2023] SGHCF 15
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Marriage occurred. | |
| Divorce proceedings commenced. | |
| Interim Judgment granted. | |
| Oral judgment given on ancillary matters. | |
| Children’s Maintenance order effective date. | |
| Grounds of decision issued. |
7. Legal Issues
- Child Access
- Outcome: The court decided to leave the Husband’s weekend access hours unchanged from that under the Interim Access Orders, ie. for 22 hours of access from 3.00pm Saturday to 1.00pm Sunday.
- Category: Substantive
- Child Maintenance
- Outcome: The court ordered the Husband to pay the Wife $14,708.29 per month for Children’s Maintenance with effect from 1 November 2022.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Modification of Interim Access Orders
- Child Maintenance
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Divorce
- Family Litigation
11. Industries
- No industries specified
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBU v WBT | General Division of the High Court (Family Division) | Yes | [2023] SGHCF 3 | Singapore | Cited regarding the principle that parenting decisions, such as enrichment classes, are best resolved by parents, not the court. |
| APE v APF | High Court | No | [2015] SGHC 17 | Singapore | Cited by the Husband to argue that maintenance orders should not be pegged to his financial ability and that extravagant expenses should not be borne by him. |
| UEB v UEC | High Court | Yes | [2018] SGHCF 5 | Singapore | Cited regarding the principle that the court shall take into account various factors in deciding the maintenance award. |
| Foo Ah Yan v Chiam Heng Chow | Court of Appeal | Yes | [2012] 2 SLR 506 | Singapore | Cited regarding the principle of financial preservation, which requires that the wife to be maintained at a standard commensurate with the standard of living she had enjoyed during the marriage. |
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Women’s Charter 1961 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Interim Access Orders
- Children’s Maintenance
- Enrichment Classes
- Matrimonial Assets
- Weekend Access
15.2 Keywords
- divorce
- child access
- child maintenance
- family law
- Singapore
16. Subjects
- Family Law
- Divorce
- Child Custody
- Child Maintenance
17. Areas of Law
- Family Law
- Child Access
- Child Maintenance