Family Justice Courts Explained

Court Name:Family Justice Courts
Jurisdiction:Singapore
Location:Family Justice Courts, No 3 Havelock Square, Singapore 059725
Type:Judges are appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Chief Justice
Website:https://www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg/
Chiefjudgetitle:Presiding Judge
Chiefjudgename:Debbie Ong[1]
Termstart:30 September 2017

The Family Justice Courts (FJC) is a grouping of courts in the judicial system of Singapore that comprises the Youth Courts, Family Courts and High Court (Family Division).[2] The Youth Courts hear cases related to children and young persons, the Family Courts hear all family proceedings except cases that fall under the Youth Courts, and the Family Division of the High Court primarily hears appeals against the decisions of the Family Courts and the Youth Courts.

History

In 2013, the Committee for Family Justice was formed to review how Singapore’s family justice system may be reformed to address the needs of youth and families in distress. It recommended setting up the Family Justice Court.[3]

The Family Justice Courts of Singapore are established pursuant to the Family Justice Act which was passed by the Singapore Parliament on 4 August 2014.[4]

Legislation

The FJC deals with cases involving the following legislations:[5]

It handled a total of 26,560 cases cases in 2021.

iFAMS and other Case Management Systems

Integrated Family Application Management System (iFAMS) is an end-to-end paperless system that predominantly deals with family-related cases brought before FJC.[7] Other cases are dealt with in the e-Litigation system that handles most non-criminal cases filed in Singapore court.[8]

A simplified application process for certain types of uncontested divorces has been launched. This eService is designed to allow lay-persons to file for such divorces directly, without needing to engage a lawyer.[9]

Another simplified eService has also been launched, to deal with simpler Probate applications. These are applications that can be taken out when a person has passed away, leaving behind a will that has named an Executor to carry out the wishes of the deceased person.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: High Court to get four new judges . Straitstimes.com . 2017-08-17 . 2018-10-03.
  2. Web site: Overview. StateCourts. www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg. 2018-10-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003102318/https://www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg/AboutFamilyJusticeCourts/Pages/Overview.aspx. 2018-10-03. dead.
  3. Web site: Recommendations of the Committee for Family Justice on the framework of the family justice system.
  4. Web site: Second Reading Speech by Minister for Law, K Shanmugam, on the Family Justice Bill - Ministry of Law .
  5. Web site: Legislation and Directions. StateCourts. www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg. 2018-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20181003102427/https://www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg/QuickLink/Pages/Legislation-and-Directions-.aspx. 2018-10-03. dead.
  6. Web site: FAMILY JUSTICE ACT 2014.
  7. Web site: Application forms for protection and maintenance orders can now be prepared online.
  8. Web site: eLitigation . 2023-08-10.
  9. Web site: Simplified Track Divorce eService . 2023-08-10 . Simplified Track Divorce eService.
  10. Web site: Probate e-Service . 2023-08-10 . Probate eService.