Having handled many probate matters in my 12-year career as a lawyer so far, I have noticed a few common mistakes administrators or executors (collectively known as personal representatives) tend to make when administering the estate of a loved one who has passed away. This is understandable, given the sorrow…
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The COVID-19 Pandemic: Financial Settlements on Divorce
I am an English lawyer with 14 years of experience. I specialise in English family law as it applies to British expats based in Singapore, and across Asia. In my previous article “The COVID-19 Pandemic: 6 issues international families may face” I discussed, in broad terms, the types of issues…
How Might COVID-19 Affect Divorces in Singapore?
As of 7 April 2020, the Singapore government put in place circuit breaker measures to reduce local transmission of COVID-19. Following the circuit breaker measures, the Family Justice Courts (FJC) have released new measures on the current state of proceedings in the divorce courts. However, the current measures taken by…
COVID-19 Penalties for Not Social Distancing or Staying Home
On 7 April 2020, Singapore entered the “circuit breaker” period which had been announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, to pre-empt the escalating number of COVID-19 infections across the country. This article outlines the various measures that have been implemented, including social distancing, contact tracing and ensuring that individuals…
COVID-19 Changes to Singapore’s General Elections 2020
Singapore’s next general election must be held by 14 April 2021, and it is unclear whether the current coronavirus pandemic will clear up by then. However, holding a general election amidst the pandemic is not impossible. For instance, South Korea held its elections last month and had implemented measures like…
Blood Donation in Singapore During COVID-19: Can I Donate?
Why is it More Important to Donate Blood During COVID-19? Blood banks are in dire need of donated blood during the current Covid-19 outbreak. This is because many people have been cancelling their blood donation appointments due to current stay-at-home measures. According to the Red Cross, 15 units of blood…
Foreign Interference in Singapore Elections: Laws and Penalties
Foreign interference in elections refers to attempts by foreign actors (people, agencies or countries) to influence the domestic elections of a sovereign state. The motive of such interference is to impact people’s voting behaviours in a way that is consistent with the foreign actor’s agenda. With the massive amount of…
Maid Abuse in Singapore: Getting Help and Legal Penalties
Singapore is one of the most popular work destinations for maids (i.e. Foreign Domestic Workers (FDW)) in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, 60% of maids working in Singapore report being exploited by their employers, according to a 2017 survey conducted by independent consultancy Research Across Borders. This includes excessive working hours, poor…
4 Reasons to Hire a Criminal Lawyer to Defend You in Singapore
When faced with a criminal charge, you will need to decide whether or not to hire a criminal lawyer. Some people may shy away from this due to the potential costs and hassle of engaging a lawyer, while others may think that they have the ability to conduct their own…
Should You File for Divorce First in Singapore? Pros and Cons
Going through a divorce can be an emotionally draining and overwhelming experience for many individuals. Added to that pressure can be any perceived legal, tactical or financial advantages that the Plaintiff (i.e. the spouse filing for the divorce) can have throughout the divorce process – simply because they filed for…
