Family Justice Courts Practice Directions 2015
LAST UPDATED: 1 January 2025
Last updated
LAST UPDATED: 1 January 2025
Last updated
1. Introduction
Citation
Applicability
Citation of Legislation in Proceedings
Updating
Forms
Registrar’s Circulars
Compliance with Practice Directions and Registrar’s Circulars
2. Calculation of time
3. Documents to be filed at the Registry of the Family Justice Courts
4. Contact information to be provided in cause papers and documents filed in the Family Courts Registry
5. Identification numbers to be stated in cause papers
Parties named in the title of the documents
Parties not named in the title of the documents
Documents filed by two or more parties
Identification numbers for non-parties
Special cases
Identification numbers
Guidelines for the selection of identification numbers
Inability to furnish identification number at the time of filing a document
Meaning of document
Non-compliance
6. Judicial Case Management
Introduction
Purposes
Principles
Key elements
Interlocutory applications
Case conferences
Communications with Court
7. Guidance on Direct Judicial Communications in International Family
Introduction
Overarching Principles
Procedure and Safeguards
Initiating the Communication
The Form of Communications and Language Difficulties
Written Communications
Oral Communications
Post Communications
Keeping Central Authority informed of judicial communications
7A. Introduction
7B. Definition and objectives of Therapeutic Justice
7C. Purpose and application
7D. The tracks and the triage process
7E. Standard Track
7F. Teams Track
7G. Role of parties and solicitors under the TJ Model
7H. Exercise of judge-led powers and the Court’s discretion as to costs
8. Child Representative
8A. Parenting Coordinator
9. Examination of children
10. Arrangements for the welfare of children
10A. Providing the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (“ICA”) with Court orders or injunctions restraining or prohibiting the taking of child out of Singapore
11. Mediation and/or Counselling Directed by Court
12. Mandatory Counselling & Mediation
13. Counselling
13A. Family Neutral Evaluation process
13B. Confidentiality
14. Particulars of Statement of Claim
Bankruptcy status of both parties
Statement of Particulars
Counterclaim
15. Request for simplified hearing track for divorce proceedings where parties have agreed on ancillary matters
How to apply for simplified uncontested divorce proceedings
16. Agreed Matrimonial Property Plan and Proposed Matrimonial Property Plan
17. Status Conferences
18. Uncontested Matrimonial Proceedings in Chambers
19. Uncontested Matrimonial Proceedings in open court hearings
20. Documents for use in trials of contested matrimonial proceedings under Part X of the Women’s Charter (Cap 353)
Bundle of documents
Bundle of authorities
Opening statements
Timeline for tendering documents
21. Affidavit of Assets and Means
22. Documents required for the extraction of Certificate of Making Decree Nisi Absolute and Decree Nisi for matrimonial proceedings filed before 15 December
23. Alternative dispute resolution
23A. Offer to Resolve in maintenance applications
24. Pre-hearing matters
24A. Service of summons under Part VIII of Women’s Charter (except an application made under section 69 or 70)
25. Documents and affidavits in respect of maintenance proceedings under Part VIII of Women’s Charter (Cap. 353)
25A. Appointment of Maintenance Record Officer
25B. Referral for assessment
26. Hearing of maintenance proceedings in chambers
26A. Application
26B. Establishment of Electronic Filing Service and appointment of network service provider
26C. Authorised users and authorised agents
26D. Electronic filing of written complaints
26E. Documents
26F. Documents which cannot be converted into electronic format
26G. Amendment of documents
26H. Limits on size and number of documents submitted using electronic filing service
26I. Bundles of Authorities
26J. Change of Solicitors
26K. Request for Court Records
26L. Other Requests
26M. Showing proof of payment
26N. Payment in and Out of Court
27. Commencement documents
Filing of commencement documents
Contents of the affidavit in support of the originating summons
28. Amendment of originating summons and statement
29. Dispensation of Consent and/or Service
30. Submission of supporting documents
31. Application and Appeals
Application
Appeals
32. Magistrate’s complaints (Private summonses)
33. Application for Court Records for Youth Court matters and non-electronically filed cases
34. Initiation of prosecution
35. Charges
36. Checklists
37. Applications
38. Bundles of authorities for Youth Courts proceedings
39. Documents
40. Documents which cannot be converted into electronic format
41. Amendment of charges and documents
42. Noting appearances of advocates/prosecutors
43. Limits on size and number of documents submitted using Electronic Filing Service
44. Proceedings under the International Child Abduction Act (Cap. 143C)
Service of application on named defendants
The plaintiff’s supporting affidavit
Applications subsequent to the filing of the originating summons in proceedings under the ICAA
Form of Order of Court
45. Proceedings under the Mental Capacity Act (Cap. 177A)
46. Documents to be filed
47. Where permission is not required to make an application
48. Where permission is required to make an application
49. Service of application on named defendants and relevant persons
50. Relevant persons
51. Consent of relevant persons
52. Notification of P
53. Responding to an application
54. Applications involving the appointment of deputies
The prayers
The supporting affidavit by the plaintiff or applicant and the deputies
The doctor’s affidavit exhibiting the medical report
The affidavit by the successor deputy or deputies
55. Application subsequent to the appointment of deputy
56. Application relating to lasting power of attorney
57. Application for statutory wills
58. Litigation representative in mental capacity proceedings
59. Where P ceases to lack capacity or dies
Application to end proceedings
Applications where proceedings have concluded
Procedure to be followed when P dies
Final report by deputy
60. Applications subsequent to the filing of the originating summons in mental capacity proceedings
61. Order of Court
61A. Uncontested applications for certain specified matters
62. Applications for grant of probate or letters of administration
Filing of originating summons and supporting documents
Rejection of documents
63. Filing of supporting affidavit
64. Amendment of originating summons or statement
65. Affidavits of Foreign Law
66. Filing of schedules of property for non-dutiable estates where death occurred before 15 February 2008
67. Filing of schedule of assets for estates where death occurs on or after 15 February 2008
68. Security for grants of letters of administration
69. Applications for dispensation of sureties for grants of letters of administration
70. Caveat and probate application searches to be conducted when requesting to extract grant
71. Amended grants and re-grants
71A. Applications under Vulnerable Adults Act
71B. Forms to be filed
71C. Application for Court Records
71D. Pre-hearing matters
72. Originating Summonses
Forms for originating summonses
Originating summons to be heard in open Court
73. Endorsements on originating process and other documents
74. Forms of documents to be filed for proceedings under Chapter 4A of Part X of the Women’s Charter (Cap. 353)
75. Distribution of applications
76. Summonses
77. Supporting Affidavits for Specific Applications
Originating Summons for leave to file Writ under section 94 of the Women’s Charter
Summons for leave to file additional Ancillary Matters Affidavits
Summons to vary child-related orders
Summons to vary maintenance orders made under Part X of Women’s Charter
78. Personal service of processes and other documents
79. Substituted and Dispensation of Service
Application for substituted service by way of posting on the front door at the defendant’s last known address in Singapore (“the address”)
Application for substituted service by way of prepaid AR registered post / ordinary post
Application for substituted service by way of email
Application for substituted service by way of advertisement
Application for dispensation of service
80. Discovery, inspection and interrogatories in respect of ancillary relief or financial relief under Women’s Charter
81. Applications for electronic Discovery
Location of electronically stored documents
Definition of metadata information
Time to consider electronic discovery issues during general discovery
Requests for discovery
Applications for discovery
Matters to which regard shall be had in determining whether discovery or inspection is necessary
Form of list
Inspection of electronically stored documents
Inspection of computer databases and electronic media or recording devices
Supply of copies of electronically stored documents
Requests for the supply of copies
Applications for the supply of copies
Restriction on use of privileged document, inspection of which has been inadvertently allowed
Costs
82. Applications for discovery or interrogatories against network providers
83. Ex-parte applications for injunctions
84. Mareva injunctions
85. Documents in support of ex parte applications for injunctions (including Mareva injunctions)
86. Case Conferences
87. Attendance at hearings in the Family Justice Courts
88. Electronic filing of documents and authorities for use in Court generally
Time for filing of documents
General requirements as regards documents filed for use in Court
Bundle of authorities
89. [deleted]
90. Documents for use in trials
Time for filing of documents under rule 567(1) of the Family Justice Rules
Mode of filing documents
Bundle of documents
Core bundle of documents
Opening statements
Bundle of authorities
91. Hearing in Chambers
92. Written Submissions and Bundle of Authorities for Special Date hearings
93. Citation of written judgments
Use of judgments as authorities in submissions
Use of judgments from foreign jurisdictions
Citation practice
The neutral citation system for local judgments
Ancillary provisions
94. Submissions and examinations by leading and assisting counsel
95. Amendment of documents
General requirements for amendment of any document
Colour scheme for amendments
Amendment for third time or more
Cases to which the requirements in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply
Amendment endorsements on electronic forms
Amendments made on original writ or originating summons (where amendments are not numerous or lengthy)
Amendment of case title to add a party
96. Waiting time for the hearing of matters
97. Request for urgent hearing dates or urgent hearings prior to the filing of the application through the Electronic Filing Service
98. Requesting a hearing date through the Electronic Filing Service
99. Written submissions for contested inter partes applications in chambers
100. Adjournment or vacation of hearing dates and part-heard cases
101. Requests for further arguments before the Judge or Registrar
102. Absence of parties and mode of hearing
103. Production of record of hearing
Record of Trials
Request for Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Service for Hearings other than Trials
Applications for Digital Audio Recording and Transcription Service
104. Use of electronic and other devices
105. Application of Court records and certification of transcripts for family matters
106. Access to case file, inspection, taking copies of documents and conducting searches
Access by parties to a case file
File inspection by non-parties or parties who are not registered users
Obtaining certified true copies of documents
Electronic cause books and registers maintained by the Registry
107. Personal Data
Consent to collection, use or disclosure of personal data
Access to, and correction of, personal data contained in documents filed with, served on, delivered or otherwise conveyed to the Registrar
Access to, and correction of, personal data contained in electronic cause books and registers maintained by the Registry
108. Witnesses
Issuance of subpoenas
Release of witness upon completion of evidence
108A. Giving of evidence by person outside Singapore through live video or live television link in any court proceedings (other than proceedings in a criminal matter)
109. Form of affidavits
Affidavits filed electronically
Affidavits that are not filed electronically
Hard copy affidavits
110. Exhibits to affidavits
Non-documentary exhibits
Exhibits to affidavits filed electronically
Exhibits to affidavits that are not filed electronically
111. Swearing or affirming of affidavits, statutory declarations and oaths
112. Effect of non-compliance
113. Objections to the contents of affidavits of evidence-in-chief
114. Draft orders of Court
115. Unnecessary extraction of orders of Court
116. Draft consent orders
Orders relating to disposition or transfer of property
Recording of consent orders
Content of the draft consent order
Recording a consent order in the manner set out in sub-paragraph (3)(a) to (c)
Recording a consent order in the manner set out in sub-paragraph (3)(d)
Extracting an Order granted by Consent
117. Judgment Interest
Interest on costs
Pre-judgment non-contractual interest
Interest under an order of court made under Part 18 Division 26 of the Family Justice Rules
118. Filing of writs of execution through the Electronic Filing Service
119. Sale of immovable property
120. Writs of execution & writs of distress – movable property
121. Requests for the Bailiff’s Attendance
122. Examination of Judgment Debtor
123. Committal proceedings
124. Appeals
125. Filing of records of appeal and written cases
Filing of records of appeal and written cases for appeals filed to the Family Division of the High Court under Part 18 Division 60 of the Family Justice Rules
Filing of records of appeal and written cases for appeals to the Family Division of the High Court under Part 18 Division 59 of the Family Justice Rules
Filing of written submissions for appeals against registrars in the Family Division of the High Court under Part 18 Division 58 of the Family Justice Rules
126. Appeals before the Family Division of the High Court from tribunal or person under Part 18 Division 55 of the Family Justice Rules
127. Skeletal arguments for appeals before the Family Division of the High Court
128. Use of presentation slides for all proceedings before the Family Division of the High Court
Typeface
Colours
Animation and sounds
Corporate logos
129. Request for waiver of deferment of court fees in the Family Division of the High Court
130. Basis of taxation
131. Form of bill of costs
132. Registrar’s Certificate
133. Objections
134. Amount allowed as disbursement on account of use of electronic transmission
135. Taxations involving the Public Trustee or Director of Legal Aid
136. Fixing costs in lieu of ordering taxation
137. Costs scheduling
138. Operating hours of the Family Justice Courts
139. Hours for the sittings of the Family Justice Courts
140. Application
141. Establishment of Electronic Filing Service and appointment of network service provider
142. Appointment of agent to establish service bureau
143. Registered users and authorised users
144. Documents which must be filed, served, delivered etc., using the Electronic Filing Service
145. Form of documents
146. Pagination of documents
147. Filing documents through service bureau
148. Filing of documents to the Family Justice Courts through a Supreme Court service bureau
149. Limits on the size and number of documents submitted using the Electronic Filing Service
150. Documents which cannot be converted into an electronic format
151. Rejection of documents, back-dating and refund of penalty
152. Hard copies of documents filed electronically
153. Responsibility for accuracy and completeness of information submitted using the Electronic Filing Service
Consolidated, transferred or converted cases in civil proceedings
154. Amendment of documents originally filed in court by entering relevant information in an electronic template
155. Filing directions to the Accountant-General for payment into and out of Court
Direction to Accountant-General for Payment In or Payment Out
Request for information on balance of monies paid into Court
156. Electronic payment of Court fees
Implementation of electronic means for payment of Court fees
Modes of payment by electronic means
Scope of payment by electronic means
Registrar’s discretion
157. Stamping of documents
158. Weekend/Public Holiday Duty Registrar and Judge at the Family Courts
159. Duty Registrar and Duty Magistrate
159A. Request for urgent hearing before Duty Judge
Request for urgent hearing before Duty District Judge or Assistant Registrar of the Family Justice Courts
Request for urgent hearing before Judge of the Family Division of the High Court
160. Attendance of solicitors in Court
161. Use of Video or Telephone Conferencing for Hearings
Guidelines for Video and Telephone Conferencing
Directions for Hearing by Video and Telephone Conferencing
Conduct of Hearing
161A.Technology Facilities in Supreme Court Building
Use of the Video Conference Facilities and the Mobile Infocomm Technology Facilities
Applications to use the Video Conference Facilities and Usage of Additional Equipment
Applications to use the Mobile Infocomm Technology Facilities
Fees
162. Absence from Court on medical grounds
163. Publication of & Reports and Comments on Court Cases
164. Citation of Case Numbers
165. The Electronic Queue Management System and Central Display Management System
166. Precedence and preaudience of Senior Counsel
167. Court dress
Trials in Court
Hearings in Chambers
Mediations
168. Requests and Other Correspondence
General Correspondence
Request to adjourn, reschedule or vacate a hearing date
169. Requests for Court interpreters
Family Division of the High Court
Family Courts
Translation
170. Authorisation for collection of mail and Court documents
171. The Family Court Friend Scheme