Family Matters: A legal guide to marriage, children and personal protection

This book covers the four important stages in everyone’s life and addresses the legal questions and concerns that readers have.

• Explains the basic legal questions one would encounter in life
• Explains the rights and interests of children and minors
• Explains the sacraments of marriage and what happens when your spouse is of a different nationality
• Explains what happens in a divorce case and among other matters how the custody and care of the children are determined

This book covers the four important stages in everyone’s life and addresses the legal questions and concerns that readers have. It starts at birth and includes information on deed polls, adoption, birth certificates, as well as the rights of single mothers and illegitimate children. Updates are provided on the revamped Registration of Births and Deaths Act 2021 and amendments to the Adoption of Children Act 2022.

Section two looks at the needs and interests of children and young people under the new Family Guidance Order. It includes the amendment of Article 122 of the Constitution in 2004 to allow children to acquire Singapore citizenship through their Singaporean mothers. Also discussed is how they are protected from abuse and neglect.

The third part covers marriage. What are prenup and postnup agreements, and are they recognized in Singapore? Also discusses how the rights of the wife and children in such a situation in the light of recent cases.

The final section looks at divorce and the important 2022 amendments to Women’s Charter. How is the custody, care and control of the children determined? What are the considerations in allowing access to the children? How is maintenance calculated, as well as the enforcement of court orders in the case of child relocation and abduction under the Hague Convention?