Child Issue - Expat Divorce

Ways To Prevent A Spouse From Removing A Child From Singapore

A parent’s love for his/her child knows no boundaries. Parents act in a way they think is for the best interest of the child even if that means bringing the child out of Singapore, for a holiday or for good.

Local laws entail that the consent of the other parent has to be given first in order to remove a child from of Singapore. Failure to do so could amount to child abduction. Our International Divorce Lawyers can assist in obtaining a court order to prevent a parent from removing a child from Singapore.

Even with a Court Order, our clients share with us their fears of their spouse removing their child from Singapore. These are valid fears and we understand that time is of the essence in such situations.

In this article, we will be sharing steps to be taken to prevent the removal of a child.

1. Sign and submit to Court two (2) documents: –

a. An Undertaking; and
b. The Court Order.

These documents can be submitted via a system known as ‘E-litigation’.
When in doubt, our Specialist Divorce Lawyers can assist in the administrative procedure to ensure an expedient process to give you a peace of mind.

2. Send the above mentioned documents in 1(a) and (b) to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (“ICA”) through email.

These documents have to be sent to the relevant ICA email address and during the ICA’s working hours.
When in doubt, please do not hesitate to contact our Singapore Divorce Lawyers who can provide further assistance to ensure a speedy and efficient process for your ease of mind.

Compliance with the above mentioned requirements in 1 and 2 is very important. Failure to comply may result in the ICA not providing the necessary assistance.

Our Specialist International Divorce Lawyers can help to ensure that the entire process of preventing child removal is seamless and speedy as possible to help them feel more secure.

Our International Divorce Lawyers will explain the steps involved when considering a Singapore divorce and advise on your rights and options.

Call Us at +65 6337 0469

Mail us on consult@gjclaw.com.sg

Child Abduction And The Hague Convention Issues

International child abduction, often by a parent taking children out of a country without the consent of the other parent, is increasing as more people travel and reside overseas.

This will often require immediate action in multiple jurisdictions. If a child is abducted from Singapore to another country, we can assist the left-behind parent by taking the following steps:

Determine whether the case can be brought pursuant to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Convention);

Prepare and file the Hague Convention application as to petitioner’s custody rights under Singapore law;

Coordinate with the Central Authority of Singapore and corresponding Embassies;

Assist our client to retain local counsel in the foreign jurisdiction;

Determine the possibility of instituting civil proceedings against the abductor Coordinate appropriate action if the abductor flees to a third jurisdiction;

Coordinate the institution of measures to cause the foreign state’s authorities to enforce its court’s return order; and

Determine and help implement alternative strategies in the case of abductions to countries that are not parties to the Hague Convention.

If retained by a parent who is alleged to have abducted a child to a foreign jurisdiction, international counsel will assist the client to retain local counsel in the foreign jurisdiction, assist in preparing the defense and assist in defending any actions that the left-behind parent asserts in the state from which the child was removed.