WTB v WTC [2024] SGHCF 1

The parties obtained final judgment of their divorce on 31 May 2023. The present application arises from the District Judge’s (“DJ”) order in FC/D 5459/2021 concerning the ancillary matters, in particular the division of matrimonial assets and child maintenance. The Applicant Husband wanted to appeal against the DJ’s orders that were handed down on 22 May 2023, but he failed to file the Notice of Appeal within the stipulated time, which was 14 days after 22 May 2023. The Applicant then applied for an extension of time in HCF/OSN 6/2023 on 22 June 2023. He said that he failed to file the Notice of Appeal in time because he was in the process of obtaining legal aid. At the hearing on 15 August 2023, I granted him leave to appeal within 14 days. However, he failed to comply again, and now seeks a second extension of time before me.

The Applicant Husband says that he did not know that he was supposed to file a Notice of Appeal and that he did not know how to file a Notice of Appeal within the stipulated time. I am unable to accept his reasons since no attempt was made. With the experience of his first application for an extension of time, he ought, at least, to seek help because he must know that a notice of appeal does not appear by itself. I agree with counsel for the Respondent Wife that there has been an unreasonable delay of 118 days from the last day the Applicant was supposed to file his Notice of Appeal.