DBA v DBB: Division of Matrimonial Assets in Long Single-Income Marriage

In DBA v DBB, the Appellate Division of the High Court of Singapore heard an appeal regarding the division of matrimonial assets following a divorce. The court reclassified the marriage as a long single-income marriage, overturning the initial classification as dual-income. The court adjusted the asset division to 60:40 in favor of the husband, recognizing his significant financial contributions and the wife's role as primary homemaker. The court upheld the order for the husband to pay monthly maintenance for one child and denied maintenance for the wife.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

Appellate Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Appeal Allowed in Part

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Grounds of Decision

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Appeal regarding the classification of marriage for asset division. The court reclassified it as a long single-income marriage, adjusting the asset division to 60:40 in favor of the husband.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
DBAAppellantIndividualAppeal Allowed in PartPartial
DBBRespondent, PlaintiffIndividualPartial LossPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Woo Bih LiJudge of the Appellate DivisionNo
Debbie Ong Siew LingJudge of the Appellate DivisionYes
See Kee OonJudge of the Appellate DivisionNo

4. Counsels

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

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married on 26 September 1990 and divorced after 31 years.
  2. The Wife was primarily the homemaker for the majority of the marriage.
  3. The Husband was primarily the breadwinner for the majority of the marriage.
  4. The Wife took on more flexible work to care for the children.
  5. The Husband left full-time employment in 2016 but continued contract work.
  6. The parties have three children, one of whom is a minor.
  7. The total pool of assets had a value of over $7 million.

5. Formal Citations

  1. DBA v DBB, Civil Appeal No 67 of 2023, [2024] SGHC(A) 12

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married
Interim judgment of divorce granted
Husband to pay A$100,000 for [C’s] tertiary education
Husband to pay A$100,000 for [C’s] tertiary education
Hearing date
Grounds of decision delivered
Five Properties to be sold in the open market

7. Legal Issues

  1. Classification of Marriage
    • Outcome: The court reclassified the marriage as a long single-income marriage.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Dual-income marriage
      • Single-income marriage
      • Homemaker contributions
    • Related Cases:
      • [2015] 4 SLR 1043
      • [2017] 1 SLR 609
  2. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court ordered that the total pool of matrimonial assets be divided in the proportion of 60% to the Husband and 40% to the Wife.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Direct contributions
      • Indirect contributions
      • Valuation of assets
      • CPF contributions
    • Related Cases:
      • [2015] 4 SLR 1043
      • [2017] 1 SLR 609
  3. Child Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court did not disturb the Judge’s order that the Husband pays $1,500 as monthly maintenance for [D].
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Reasonable expenses
      • Parents' duty to provide
  4. Wife Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court did not disturb the Judge’s order that there would be no maintenance for her.
    • Category: Substantive
    • Sub-Issues:
      • Financial preservation
      • Standard of living

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Maintenance for Child
  3. Maintenance for Wife
  4. Transfer of Properties

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce
  • Division of Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance

10. Practice Areas

  • Divorce
  • Family Law
  • Appeals

11. Industries

  • No industries specified

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
ANJ v ANKCourt of AppealYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited for the structured approach in dividing matrimonial assets in dual-income marriages.
TNL v TNK and another appeal and another matterCourt of AppealYes[2017] 1 SLR 609SingaporeCited for the principle that the structured approach to division of matrimonial assets applies to dual-income marriages but not single-income marriages and for trends in precedent cases for long single-income marriages.
BPC v BPB and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2019] 1 SLR 608SingaporeCited for the principle that one must first enquire whether the marriage is a long single-income or dual-income marriage.
UBM v UBNFamily Division of the High CourtYes[2017] 4 SLR 921SingaporeCited for the definition of a single-income marriage and the principle that the homemaker may work part-time or intermittently over the course of the marriage.
Yow Mee Lan v Chen Kai BuanUnknownYes[2000] 2 SLR(R) 659SingaporeCited as an instance of a long single-income marriage where the wife worked continuously during the marriage.
USB v USA and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2020] 2 SLR 588SingaporeCited for the principle that the starting point of the division exercise is the identification of the material gains of the marital partnership.
CVC v CVBHigh CourtYes[2023] SGHC(A) 28SingaporeCited for the principle that the total pool of matrimonial assets ought to have been identified and valued before the first step of the ANJ approach is taken and for the legal principles regarding repayment of CPF contributions.
Yeo Chong Lin v Tay Ang Choo Nancy and another appealCourt of AppealYes[2011] 2 SLR 1157SingaporeCited to show that there is no immutable rule requiring that each party in a long single-income marriage should receive a 50% share.
WBU v WBTSingapore High CourtYes[2023] SGHCF 3SingaporeCited for the principle that a broad-brush approach is appropriate in both the quantification of child maintenance and the apportionment of the maintenance obligation as between the parties.

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
  • Dual-income marriage
  • Single-income marriage
  • Homemaker
  • Breadwinner
  • Direct contributions
  • Indirect contributions
  • Child maintenance
  • Wife maintenance
  • CPF contributions

15.2 Keywords

  • divorce
  • matrimonial assets
  • single-income marriage
  • child maintenance
  • wife maintenance
  • family law

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Division of Matrimonial Assets90
Matrimonial Home85
Maintenance (Child)80
Maintenance75
Maintenance (Wife)70
Care and Control60
Access to Children50
Wills and Probate10
Trust Law5

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Matrimonial Assets
  • Maintenance