XHG v XHH: Division of Matrimonial Assets, Wife & Child Maintenance

In the Family Justice Courts of the Republic of Singapore, Justice Choo Han Teck presided over the divorce case of XHG (Husband) v XHH (Wife). The court addressed the division of matrimonial assets and the maintenance of the Wife and their two children. The court made orders for the division of assets and determined the maintenance responsibilities of each party.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court (Family Division)

1.2 Outcome

Orders made for division of matrimonial assets and maintenance for the wife and children.

1.3 Case Type

Family

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Divorce case concerning the division of matrimonial assets and maintenance for the wife and two children. Judgment outlines asset division and maintenance responsibilities.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
XHGPlaintiffIndividualDivision of matrimonial assets and maintenance determinedPartial
XHHDefendantIndividualDivision of matrimonial assets and maintenance determinedPartial

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Kyle Leslie SimEngarde Legal LLC
Florence TingEngarde Legal LLC

4. Facts

  1. The Husband and Wife were married on 19 October 2013 and the marriage lasted almost 9 years.
  2. The Husband commenced divorce proceedings on 21 February 2022.
  3. The Interim Judgment was granted on 18 October 2022.
  4. The Husband is an Irish citizen and Singapore Permanent Resident working as a managing director.
  5. The Wife is a Singapore citizen working as a banker.
  6. They have two children, a daughter aged nine and a son aged six.
  7. The parties agreed to joint custody of the children, with care and control to the Wife and reasonable access to the Husband.

5. Formal Citations

  1. XHG v XHH, Divorce (Transferred) No 706 of 2022, [2025] SGHCF 2

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Marriage of the plaintiff and the defendant
Husband commenced divorce proceedings
Interim Judgment granted
Consent order for joint custody of children
Ancillary matters hearing
Further submissions filed
Judgment reserved
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
    • Outcome: The court determined the division of matrimonial assets based on direct and indirect contributions of both parties.
    • Category: Substantive
  2. Wife Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered the Husband to pay a lump sum for backdated maintenance to the Wife.
    • Category: Substantive
  3. Child Maintenance
    • Outcome: The court ordered the Husband to pay monthly maintenance for the children until they turn 21.
    • Category: Substantive
  4. Full and Frank Disclosure
    • Outcome: The court found that the Husband failed to make full and frank disclosure, which had a bearing on costs.
    • Category: Procedural

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Division of Matrimonial Assets
  2. Maintenance for Wife
  3. Maintenance for Children

9. Cause of Actions

  • Divorce

10. Practice Areas

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

11. Industries

  • Banking
  • Finance

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
CLT v CLS and another matterHigh Court (Family Division)Yes[2021] SGHCF 29SingaporeCited for the principle that only bank and CPF accounts are to be valued as at the Interim Judgment date.
TNL v TNKCourt of AppealYes[2017] 1 SLR 609SingaporeCited for the principle that assets expended without consent when divorce proceedings are imminent or have commenced should be returned to the pool for division.
USB v USACourt of AppealYes[2020] 2 SLR 588SingaporeCited for the approach to determine whether an asset acquired before marriage should be included in the matrimonial pool.
ANJ v ANKCourt of AppealYes[2015] 4 SLR 1043SingaporeCited as an example of a dual-income marriage to determine the division of matrimonial assets.
AZZ v BAAHigh CourtYes[2016] SGHC 44SingaporeCited for the principle that in order to draw an adverse inference, there must be a substratum of evidence that establishes a prima facie case of concealment of assets.
AQT v AQUHigh CourtYes[2011] SGHC 138SingaporeCited for the general position on costs for divorce proceedings that the parties bear their own costs.
WVS v WVTHigh Court (Appeal)Yes[2024] SGHC(A) 35SingaporeCited for the principle that parties should work out the details of how to carry out the court’s division orders with the help of their solicitors.

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
  • Interim Judgment
  • Ancillary Matters
  • Direct Contributions
  • Indirect Contributions
  • Maintenance
  • Custody
  • Care and Control
  • Access
  • Dissipation of Assets
  • Full and Frank Disclosure

15.2 Keywords

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

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Family Law95
Division of Matrimonial Assets90
Maintenance85
Maintenance (Wife)80
Maintenance (Child)80
Child Custody60

16. Subjects

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