Singapore legislation
Section 4
Section 4
Declarations of legitimacy of legitimated persons
(1)
A person claiming that he or his parent or any remoter ancestor became or has become a legitimated person may, whether domiciled in Singapore or elsewhere, and whether a citizen of Singapore or not, apply to the court by originating summons for a decree declaring that the applicant is the legitimate child of his parents, or that his parent or remoter ancestor was legitimate, and the court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine that application and to make such decree declaratory of the legitimacy or illegitimacy of such person as to the court may seem just; and that decree shall be binding to all intents and purposes on the Government and on all persons whomsoever.
(2)
Every application under this section shall be supported by an affidavit verifying the facts alleged in the same, and by such proof of the absence of fraud and collusion, as the court may by any general rule direct.
(3)
In all proceedings under this section the court shall have full power to award and enforce payment of costs to any person cited, whether that person does or does not oppose the declaration applied for, in case the court considers it reasonable that the costs should be paid.
(4)
A copy of every application under this section and of the affidavit in support thereof shall be served on the Attorney-General, who may apply to intervene in the application if he thinks necessary.
(5)
Where any application is made under this section to the court, the person or persons, if any, besides the Attorney-General as the court thinks fit shall, subject to the rules made under this section, be cited to the proceedings or otherwise summoned in such manner as the court directs, and may be permitted to become parties to the proceedings, and oppose the application.
(6)
The decree of the court shall not in any case prejudice any person —
if it is subsequently proved to have been obtained by fraud or collusion; or
unless that person has been cited or made a party to the proceedings or is the heir at law, next of kin, or other real or personal representative of, or derives title under or through, a person so cited or made a party.
(7)
No proceedings to be had under this section shall affect any final judgement or decree already pronounced or made by any court of competent jurisdiction.
(8)
The Family Justice Rules Committee constituted under section 46(1) of the Family Justice Act 2014 may make Family Justice Rules for carrying the provisions of this section into effect.
(9)
The Family Justice Rules may, instead of providing for any matter, refer to any provision made or to be made about that matter by practice directions issued for the time being by the registrar of the Family Justice Courts.