DBB v DBA: Division of Matrimonial Assets and Maintenance After Divorce

In DBB v DBA, the High Court of Singapore (Family Division) addressed ancillary matters following a divorce. The court, presided over by Senior Judge Lai Siu Chiu, ordered the sale and division of matrimonial assets, including properties in Singapore, Japan, Australia, and Birmingham, with a 77.5%:22.5% split in favor of the Husband. The Husband was ordered to pay monthly maintenance for two children and a lump sum for the third child's education. No maintenance was awarded to the Wife. The Wife has appealed against all the orders.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

High Court of the Republic of Singapore (Family Division)

1.2 Outcome

Orders made for the sale and division of matrimonial assets, maintenance for children, and no maintenance for the wife.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Singapore High Court judgment on division of matrimonial assets and maintenance after divorce, considering financial and non-financial contributions.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
DBADefendantIndividualPartialPartial
DBBPlaintiffIndividualPartialPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Lai Siu ChiuSenior JudgeYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Ang Hui TsunLouis Lim & Partners
Augustine Thung Hsing HuaYeo & Associates LLC

4. Facts

  1. The Husband and Wife were married on 26 September 1990 and have three children.
  2. The Husband retired from full-time employment in 2016 but has an annual investment income of $146,436.
  3. The Wife works part-time as a sales assistant and earns approximately $600 per month.
  4. The couple owns a matrimonial home in Singapore and several overseas properties.
  5. The Husband claimed that the joint assets were almost entirely funded by him.
  6. The Wife claimed to have made financial and non-financial contributions to the marriage.
  7. The Husband alleged the Wife was unfaithful during the marriage.

5. Formal Citations

  1. DBB v DBA, Divorce (Transferred) No 386 of 2021, [2023] SGHCF 40

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Husband and Wife married
Interim judgment for divorce granted
Consent Order granted for joint custody and shared care and control of the children
Husband started residing with his mother
Consent Order regarding access arrangements for [D] was varied
Ancillary matters hearing took place
Ancillary matters hearing took place
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court ordered a division of matrimonial assets in the proportion of 77.5% to the Husband and 22.5% to the Wife.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Direct contributions to matrimonial assets
      • Indirect contributions to matrimonial assets
      • Valuation of matrimonial assets
  2. Spousal Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court did not award spousal maintenance to the Wife.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Financial needs of the wife
      • Earning capacity of the wife
      • Husband's ability to pay
  3. Child Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered the Husband to pay monthly maintenance for two children and a lump sum for the third child's education.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Financial needs of the children
      • Standard of living of the children
      • Parents' ability to contribute

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Spousal Maintenance
  3. Child Maintenance

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Matrimonial Asset Division
  • Child Maintenance
  • Spousal Maintenance

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
ANJ v ANKCourt of AppealYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited for the structured approach to dividing matrimonial assets in dual-income marriages.
UGG v UGH (M.W.)High Court (Family Division)Yes[2017] SGHCF 25SingaporeCited as an example where the indirect contributions of the parties were heavily contested.
TNL v TNKCourt of AppealYes[2017] 1 SLR 609SingaporeCited for the approach to division of matrimonial assets in long single-income marriages.
BG v BFN/AYes[2007] 3 SLR(R) 233SingaporeCited for the principle that the court’s power to order spousal maintenance complements its power to divide matrimonial assets.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
No applicable rules

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
Women’s Charter 1961 (2020 Rev Ed)Singapore

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Ancillary Matters
  • Maintenance
  • Division of Assets
  • Joint Custody
  • Shared Care and Control
  • Investment Income
  • Direct Contributions
  • Indirect Contributions

15.2 Keywords

  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance
  • Singapore
  • Family Law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Matrimonial Assets90
Maintenance90
Divorce85
Child Custody50
Child Support50
Civil Practice30
Civil Litigation30
Costs20

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Child Maintenance
  • Spousal Maintenance