The Family Justice Courts (FJC) were established pursuant to the Family Justice Act which was passed by Parliament on 4 August 2014. The Family Justice Act was enacted based on the recommendations of the Committee for Family Justice which was formed in 2013 to review how Singapore’s family justice system may be reformed to address the needs of youth and families in distress.
The FJC is a restructuring of Singapore's court system to better serve litigants. By bringing together all family-related work under a specialised body of courts, the legal system is better able to frame disputes from the perspective of families and the individuals within. This is in contrast to other types of cases which are traditionally dealt with in an adversarial manner. In addition, it is able to provide a suite of family specific services, enhance processes and identify relevant training programmes that develop family-specific skills in judges, lawyers and other family practitioners.
The Family Justice Courts is the collective name for a body of courts which comprise the Family Division of the High Court, the Family Courts and the Youth Courts. These Courts are administered by the Presiding Judge of the Family Justice Courts. The Family Justice Courts will hear the full suite of family-related cases including all divorce and related matters, family violence cases, adoption and guardianship cases, Youth Court cases, applications for deputyship under the Mental Capacity Act, and probate and succession matters.
The FJC deals with cases involving the following legislation:
- Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3)
- Adoption of Children Act (Cap. 4)
- Children and Young Persons Act (Cap. 38)
- Family Justice Act 2014 (Act 27 of 2014)
- Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap. 122)
- Inheritance (Family Provision) Act (Cap. 138)
- International Child Abduction Act (Cap. 143C)
- Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146)
- Legitimacy Act (Cap. 162)
- Maintenance of Parents Act (Cap. 167B)
- Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act (Cap. 168)
- Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act (Cap. 169)
- Mental Capacity Act (Cap. 177A)
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act (Cap. 178A)
- Probate and Administration Act (Cap. 251)
- Status of Children (Assisted Reproduction Technology) Act 2013 (Act 16 of 2013)
- Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322)
- Voluntary Sterilization Act (Cap. 347)
- Wills Act (Cap.352)
- Women's Charter (Cap. 353)
See also[]
References[]
- Family Justice Courts website:[1].