Guide to Personal Protection Orders in Singapore

Last updated on January 2, 2025

Featured image for the "Personal Protection Orders (PPOs), Expedited Orders (EOs) and Domestic Exclusion Orders (DEOs) in Singapore" article. It features a drunkard father shouting at his wife and child.

What is a Personal Protection Order (PPO)?

The Personal Protection Order (PPO) is a court order available under Part VII of the Women’s Charter. It is supplemented by the Expedited Order (EO) and the Domestic Exclusion Order (DEO). The PPO, EO, and DEO are all intended to function as court orders against family violence.

To successfully apply for a PPO, 2 elements must be proved:

An act of family violence has been committed or is likely to be committed against a family member; and
A PPO is necessary for the protection or personal safety of that family member.

This article will explain:

What is Considered Family Violence?

As defined in section 58B of the Women’s Charter, “family violence” refers to physical, sexual, or emotional or psychological abuse committed against a family member.

Physical abuse refers to:

Conduct or behaviour that causes, or threatens to cause, personal injury or physical pain to a person, or threatens them with death or injury; and/or
Wrongfully confining or restraining someone against their will.

However, physical abuse does not include any force lawfully used in self-defence or by way of correction towards a child below 18 years of age. As a result, milder forms of violence used to discipline a child (e.g. caning) do not constitute family violence under our current laws.

Sexual abuse refers to conduct or behaviour that coerces, or attempts to coerce, a person to engage in sexual activity.

Emotional or psychological abuse refers to conduct or behaviour that:

Torments, intimidates, harasses or distresses a person; or
Causes or may reasonably be expected to cause mental harm to a person, including suicidal thoughts or inflicting self-harm.

Abuse may come in the form of a single instance of conduct or behaviour, or a course of conduct or behaviour. Additionally, abusive conduct or behaviour does not need to be directed at the family member in question but must be capable of being seen, heard or otherwise perceived (directly or indirectly) by the family member in question. For example, if A spreads false rumours to friends and relatives that their spouse is promiscuous, and A’s spouse finds out about these rumours and suffers from distress as a result, then A has committed emotional or psychological abuse against their spouse.

Who is considered a family member?

A family member is defined in section 58A of the Women’s Charter as:

A spouse or former spouse of the person;
A child of the person, including an adopted child and a step-child;
A father or mother of the person;
A father-in-law or mother-in-law of the person;
A brother or sister of the person;
A relative of the person (including a relative through marriage or adoption) who should in the circumstances be regarded as a member of the person’s family; or
One who is wholly or partially incapacitated or infirm (because of physical or mental disability or ill health or old age) and should in the circumstances be regarded as a member of the person’s family.

Who Can Obtain a PPO in Singapore?

The PPO, EO, and DEO are available to Singapore citizens, all persons in Singapore, and all persons domiciled in Singapore. This includes members of Muslim families in Singapore.

You can file a PPO application to protect yourself, your children aged under 18, or an incapacitated family member, from family violence if you are at least 18 years of age.

If you are below 18 and married or have previously been married (e.g. the abuser is your former spouse), you can also file an application.

The Range of Protective Orders Available in a PPO Application

The court can make a wide variety of different types of protection orders under the Women’s Charter after receiving a PPO application. These protection orders include:

Section 60A: A personal protection order (PPO);
Section 61: An expedited order (EO);
Section 60B(2)(a): A domestic exclusion order (DEO);
Section 60B(2)(b): A stay away order (SAO);
Section 60B(2)(c): A no contact order (NCO);
Section 60E: A counselling order (CGO).

(This article will collectively refer to all these protection orders as “PPOs” unless otherwise stated.)

Personal Protection Order (PPO)

The PPO restrains the abuser from committing family violence. A PPO is granted when the court feels that family violence has been or is likely to be committed and that a protection order is necessary for the protection or personal safety of the family member (as mentioned above).

The PPO may also include a term restraining the abuser from inciting or assisting any other person to commit family violence against the family member. “Any other person” can refer to persons outside the family; for example, a friend of the abuser.

Expedited Order (EO)

The Expedited Order (EO) is an urgent and temporary PPO made without going through a court hearing. By virtue of section 61 of the Women’s Charter, the court has the power to grant an EO while there is a pending application for a PPO, if it is satisfied that there is imminent danger of family violence.

The EO is valid for 28 days from the day it was served, though the duration may be extended by the court.

When the EO expires, a second EO can be ordered.

Domestic Exclusion Order (EO)

Under section 60B(2)(a) of the Women’s Charter, Domestic Exclusion Orders (DEOs) ban the abuser from the house in which the family has been living in. The DEO can either ban the abuser from the whole house, or only certain parts of the house.

The DEO does not affect or transfer the title or ownership of the house. It can be made to exclude, for instance, a husband from the house, even though the husband is the sole owner of the house.

Stay Away Order (SAO)

A Stay Away Order prohibits the abuser from entering and remaining in areas outside the family member’s home or any other place frequented by the family member. Examples of such areas include the family member’s workplace or the school in which the family member has enrolled their child.

No Contact Order (NCO)

A No Contact Order prohibits the abuser from visiting or communicating with the family member.

Counselling Order (CGO)

The counselling order (CGO) refers parties in a PPO application to counselling and is made concurrently with a PPO. Counselling is conducted at a family support agency and children (if any) may need to attend as well. A CGO may entail requiring the abuser to attend counselling or other programmes such as parenting programmes, family therapy and caregiver training.

Around 6 to 9 months after the CGO is made, the court will fix a counselling review date for the court to assess the progress of the counselling and to either discharge or continue with the order.

Protectors and their Powers

Protectors are persons with suitable qualifications and experience who have been appointed by the Director-General of Social Welfare to act on behalf of victims of family violence. Their powers are discussed in detail below.

Issuing Emergency Orders in high-risk cases

Protectors may issue Emergency Orders restraining the abuser from committing family violence against a family member. Such an order may be made if the protector is satisfied that there is a danger that the abuser will commit family violence in the next 14 days and that an Emergency Order is necessary for the protection or personal safety of the family member.

Helping victims apply for PPOs and other orders

In situations where victims of family violence face a risk of being harmed but refuse to apply for a PPO, Protectors can apply for a PPO on their behalf.

Obtaining information on family violence

Protectors are able to assess and obtain information on whether someone has experienced or is at risk of experiencing family violence. Where necessary, they have the power to enter the home in question and make an assessment. In addition, a Protector can direct an individual to provide information and records concerning the suspected victim of family violence. Examples of such information and records could include prior police reports made by the suspected victim against the alleged abuser, or medical reports detailing physical injuries inflicted by the alleged abuser on the victim.

Applying for electronic monitoring

Protectors can apply to the court for electronic monitoring, which includes e-tagging. Electronic monitoring is used against high-risk abusers who have breached a PPO and caused harm to a family member, and that family member has not taken steps to protect himself or herself. The court may grant the application if it is satisfied that the order is necessary for the protection or personal safety of the family member in question.

Applying for a Removal Order

As a measure of last resort when all other forms of intervention have failed, Protectors may apply to the court for a Removal Order to remove a family member from their home. In such cases, the court must also make a Care Order, a Supervision Order, or both.

A Care Order commits the family member to the care of a fit person (including a competent individual or organisation) for a specified period of time, while a Supervision Order places the family member under the supervision of a Protector or another suitable court-appointed person for a specified period of time.

Penalties and Rehabilitation for Abusers

Abusers who breach family violence-related court orders are liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.

However, apart from penalties, there are also efforts in place to promote the rehabilitation of abusers. As mentioned above, the court may make a counselling order requiring the abuser to attend counselling or other programmes such as parenting programmes, family therapy and caregiver training.

For abusers suffering from psychiatric conditions that might contribute towards their commission of family violence, the court may order psychiatric assessments to determine whether a Mandatory Treatment Order should be made. Such an order could include requiring the perpetrator to stay in a psychiatric institution.

Difference between PPOs and POs under the Protection from Harassment Act

There is also an option to apply for a Protection Order (PO) under the Protection from Harassment Act. However, this PO is different from a PPO under the Women’s Charter.

Both PPOs and POs protect the applicant or applicant’s children from violence. However, PPOs provide protection against family violence while POs provide protection against harassment-related acts such as threatening or abusive words or behaviour, and unlawful stalking.

A PPO can only be applied against a family member, while a Protection Order (PO) can be applied for against both family and non-family members (such as friends, colleagues or strangers).

Read our other article to learn more about POs in Singapore and decide whether a PPO under the Women’s Charter or a PO under the Protection from Harassment Act would be more suited for your situation.

How to Apply for a PPO in Singapore

The following table presents the steps you need to take to file for a PPO in Singapore:

1. Prepare and file your application

Log into iFAMS and select Application for a personal protection order.
Fill in the online form with your draft application. Refer to the iFAMS user guide for detailed guidance on filling in the application.
Save your work and choose whether you wish to have your application and documents checked at the Family Protection Centre (FPC)/ any Protection Specialist Centres (PSC)/ Pave Integrated Services For Individual And Family Protection Specialist Centre (ISIFPSC).
Visit the FPC or any of the PSC/PAVE ISIFPSC in person to complete the application process.

Note: If you do not wish to file your application online, you may visit the FPC or any PSC/PAVE ISIFPSC to file your application entirely in person. Even if you file an application online via iFAMS, you will still have to visit any of the places listed in (d) to complete your application. However, submitting your draft application and documents online via iFAMS means that your application will be processed more quickly at the FPC or PSC/PAVE ISIFPSC.

2. Meet with a court family specialist or social worker

Attend a one-to-one session with either a court family specialist (CFS) or a social worker, who will provide information on the PPO application and cover other related issues such as your safety and your family’s needs.
Openly share with the CFS/social worker your reasons for the PPO application, alongside any concerns you may have.
Adhere to the necessary referrals made by the CFS/social worker.

3. Meet with the duty judge

Appear before a duty judge and confirm the truth of what is written in your application.
Answer any questions the judge may have regarding your application and swear/affirm that your answers are true and correct.

Once you have made your application, a judge will review it. If your application is in order, the judge will direct that a summons be issued to the alleged abuser (also known as the respondent). You will have to pay a nominal fee of S$1 for the summons to be issued.

Depending on the situation, the judge may also direct that an EO be issued for your protection (as mentioned above).

The court’s process server will serve the summons personally on the respondent at the address you have provided in your application.

If the summons is successfully served, your case will proceed for mention (which usually takes around 5 minutes). During the mention, a court officer will inform the respondent of your complaint. If the respondent agrees with your complaint and that a PPO should be issued, the judge may issue the PPO. The PPO may also come with a counselling order.

If the respondent does not agree with your complaint, the judge may arrange for a Court Family Specialist to speak with both parties and try and resolve the matter.

If the matter is resolved, the judge may issue the PPO. However, if the matter is still not resolved, the matter will proceed to a court hearing. During the hearing, the court will review both parties’ evidence and hear witnesses before deciding whether to issue the PPO.

How Long Might It Take for You to Get a PPO?

You may be able to get a PPO within 1 to 2 months of the application if the respondent agrees with the complaint in your application.

If the matter proceeds for a court hearing, you may only get the PPO within 3 to 5 months of the application, or longer.

How Long Does a PPO Last?

There is no fixed duration for PPOs. The court will determine the appropriate duration for the PPO according to the facts of the case.

What If You’re Afraid of Seeing the Respondent as Part of the PPO Application?

If you fear facing the respondent in court, inform a counsellor or one of the staff at the Family Protection Centre. It is possible to arrange for you to attend court mentions via video-link from another location. (Attendance via video-link is not available for court hearings.)

It is also possible for you to be counselled separately from the respondent during counselling sessions.

What If the Alleged Abuser Does Not Show Up to Court?

Should the respondent be absent from court without a valid reason, the court may issue a Warrant of Arrest against the respondent.

If you (the applicant) are absent from court, your PPO application will be struck out.

What If You’re Dissatisfied with the Order?

If you are dissatisfied with the order, you may appeal to a judge of the Family Division of the High Court.

This is done by filing a Notice of Appeal within 14 days of receiving the court’s order. You will also need to pay security for costs (i.e. a sum of money to cover the other party’s costs should your appeal fail), which is priced at $3,000.

What to Do if the PPO is Breached

Where the respondent breaches the terms of the PPO, you should immediately make a police report. The police will conduct an investigation on the matter and decide whether the respondent should be charged for breaching the PPO.

You can also file a Magistrate’s Complaint at the Family Justice Courts. If the magistrate is satisfied that action should be taken, the court may order a police investigation.

If the police investigations reveal that there has been a breach of the PPO, then the alleged abuser may be found guilty of the offence. For breaching the PPO, the respondent can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months or given both punishments.

The penalties are higher if the PPO breached relates to the protection of a vulnerable adult (i.e. a person aged 18 or older who is unable to protect themselves from abuse, due to a physical or mental condition). A first-time offender can be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to 18 months.

Variation, Suspension or Revocation of a PPO, EO or DEO

Upon application by either the applicant or the respondent, the court has the power to vary, suspend or revoke the PPO.

The procedure to apply to revoke, suspend or vary a PPO order is similar to that of applying for a new PPO. However, you will not need to provide any of your past medical or police reports as supporting documents. Instead, you will need the initial court order for the PPO and an identification document, such as your NRIC or passport.

Revocation

Where relations have completely mended between you and the respondent, you may wish to apply to revoke the PPO.

Suspension

If relations between you and the respondent have improved to the point where a PPO is no longer necessary, but you do not wish to have it completely revoked, you can apply to suspend the PPO, which means that the PPO is put on hold for a period of time.

Variation

You may also apply to vary the PPO to make it more stringent or flexible.

In 2018, the court varied the terms of a 5-year PPO issued against a woman who was the sole caregiver of her mother, who suffered from dementia, and her intellectually disabled sister. The woman’s mother and sister stayed at separate nursing homes and the woman was allowed to visit them. The woman had sought to have the PPO revoked as she was dissatisfied with how the nursing homes had treated her family.

However, the court found that the woman displayed “an over-zealousness in supervising the nursing home staff”. There had been incidents where the woman had interfered with the medical treatment of her mother and sister and engaged in “rough interactions” with them. Hence, the court decided to vary the PPO’s terms to further restrict the woman’s access.

Do You Need a Lawyer to Apply for a PPO in Singapore?

It is not necessary to engage a lawyer when applying for a PPO in Singapore. However, it may be helpful to engage one to ensure that your application is submitted correctly.

A lawyer can also represent you in court, and ultimately help with your chances of successfully obtaining a PPO against the alleged abuser. This is especially so if your case is particularly complex or you feel that you require more guidance on navigating the PPO application process.

You can get in touch with experienced PPO lawyers here.