VEG v VEF: Appeal on Child Maintenance Variation - Full Disclosure and Material Change in Circumstances

In VEG v VEF, before the General Division of the High Court (Family Division), the appellant husband appealed against the District Judge's decision to vary a court order regarding the maintenance of their daughter. The court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, allowed the appeal in part, finding that the respondent wife did not provide full and frank disclosure of her financial situation and that there was no material change in circumstances to warrant the variation of the maintenance orders, except for the mechanism of payment for the daughter's tuition and psychiatric expenses.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court (Family Division)

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 regarding variation of child maintenance orders. The court found a lack of full disclosure by the respondent and no material change in circumstances.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
VEGAppellantIndividualAppeal allowed in partPartialLeonard Loh, Faustina Joyce Fernando
VEFRespondentIndividualAppeal partially successfulPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Leonard LohSelvam LLC
Faustina Joyce FernandoSelvam LLC

4. Facts

  1. The parties were married on 22 October 2006 and have one daughter.
  2. Interim judgment was granted on 8 October 2012, and ancillary matters were dealt with on an uncontested basis.
  3. A court order was varied by consent on 21 October 2021.
  4. The respondent applied to vary the court order in FC/SUM 695 of 2023 to amend orders regarding the daughter’s maintenance.
  5. The appellant works as a consultant in Saudi Arabia, earning $16,690 a month.
  6. The respondent is a freelance consultant in the Food and Beverage industry, earning an average of $4,000 a month.
  7. The respondent did not fully disclose her DBS Portfolio investment account with approximately $200,000 in assets to the District Judge.

5. Formal Citations

  1. VEGvVEF, District Court Appeal No 68 of 2023, [2024] SGHCF 14

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Parties married
Interim judgment granted
Court order varied by consent
Respondent's DBS Treasures statements produced (January to August)
Appeal filed
Respondent closed DBS Treasures accounts
Hearing before the High Court
Judgment reserved
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Full and Frank Disclosure
    • Outcome: The court found that the respondent did not provide full and frank disclosure of her financial situation.
    • Category: Procedural
  2. Material Change in Circumstances
    • Outcome: The court found that there was no material change in circumstances to warrant the variation of the maintenance orders, except for the mechanism of payment.
    • Category: Substantive

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Variation of court order regarding child maintenance

9. Cause of Actions

  • No cause of actions

10. Practice Areas

  • Family Law
  • Divorce
  • Child Support

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

  • Child maintenance
  • Variation of consent orders
  • Full and frank disclosure
  • Material change in circumstances
  • Accommodation costs
  • Overseas living expenses
  • Tuition expenses
  • Psychiatric expenses
  • Mode of payment

15.2 Keywords

  • family law
  • child maintenance
  • variation
  • consent order
  • full disclosure
  • material change
  • Singapore

16. Subjects

  • Family Law
  • Child Maintenance
  • Civil Procedure

17. Areas of Law

  • Family Law
  • Child Maintenance
  • Variation of Consent Orders