Laws
Women’s Charter 1961
Part 10
s 126A

In forceAmended2020 Revised EditionCurrent version · 2020 Revised EditionSee versions on Singapore Statutes Online(opens the publisher’s site)

Contents

Women’s Charter 1961

Find in this Act

1Preliminary

1Short title
2Interpretation
3Application
3AReckoning of age

2Monogamous Marriages

4Disability to contract marriages
5Void marriages
6Offence
6AMarrying again during lifetime of husband or wife
6BCohabitation caused by deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage
6CMarriage ceremony gone through fraudulently without lawful marriage
7Continuance of marriage

3Solemnisation of Marriages

8Interpretation of this Part
9Avoidance of marriages where either party is below 18
10Avoidance of marriages within prohibited degrees
11Avoidance of marriages by subsisting prior marriage
11AAvoidance of marriages of convenience
12Avoidance of marriages between persons of same sex
13Avoidance of marriages solemnised in Singapore without valid licence or by unauthorised person
14Notice of marriage
15Validity of notice of marriage
16Declaration by intending parties
17Issue of marriage licence
17ARepealed
18Conditions for issuing marriage licence
19Caveat against issue of marriage licence
20Proceedings if caveat entered
21Special marriage licence
21AConsents required for licences for minors who have not previously married
21BMarriage preparation programme
22Who may solemnise a marriage
23How is a marriage solemnised
24Registrar may permit remote solemnisation in certain circumstances

4Registration

25Registration of marriages
26Appointment of Registrar, etc.
27State Marriage Register
28Registration of marriage solemnised by Registrar or licensed solemniser
29Certain marriages solemnised outside Singapore may be registered
30Certificate of marriage to be created upon registration, etc.
31Correction of errors
32Repealed
33Legal effect of registration

5Offences Relating to Solemnisation and Registration of Marriages

34Omission to appear before Registrar or licensed solemniser within prescribed time
35Issuing false copies or extracts
36Interference with marriage
37Intentional falsehoods for procuring marriage
38False allegation in caveat
39Unauthorised solemnisation of marriage
40Offences relating to solemnisation of marriages
41Destroying or falsifying State Marriage Register, etc.
42Consent for prosecution
43Repealed
44Repealed
45Repealed

6Rights and Duties of Husband and Wife

46Duty to cooperate
47Right to separately engage in trade, etc.
48Equal rights in running matrimonial household
49Equal shares in money and property derived from housekeeping allowance
50Married women have same rights, etc., as married men
51Married women may use own surname and name
52Abolition of married woman’s dependent domicile
53Abolition of separate property
54Abolition of restrictions on anticipation or alienation
55Husband and wife may sue each other in tort
56Summary procedure for deciding questions between husband and wife as to property
57Power of court to stay tort action between husband and wife, etc.

7Protection Against Family Violence

58Interpretation of this Part
58AWho is a family member
58BWhat is family violence
59Power to assess at‑risk persons, etc.
59AConsent generally required for assessment
59BPower to enter premises for assessment
59CPower to obtain information and examine records, etc.
59DFamily violence notifications to protectors, etc.
59EDisclosure of information to or by protectors
60Who may apply for a protection order
60AProtection orders
60BDomestic exclusion, stay away and no contact orders
60CElectronic monitoring orders
60DRemoval, care and supervision orders; orders against protected persons
60ECounselling orders
60FMandatory treatment orders
61Court may make expedited orders in pending applications for protection orders
61ADomestic exclusion, stay away and no contact orders
62Protectors may make emergency orders
62AEmergency orders may include domestic exclusion, stay away and no contact orders
62BService and duration of emergency orders
62CRestrictions on power to make emergency orders
63Litigation representative not needed for persons 18 years of age and above
63AOrders by court and protectors may be subject to conditions, etc.
63BRestriction on publishing identifying information about protected persons
63CPunishment for family violence offences
63DFamily violence offences to be arrestable
64Purpose for which powers are exercisable
64APower to enter premises and make records, etc.
64BPower to inspect, seize, preserve and require production of evidence
64CPower to require attendance of witnesses
64DPower to examine witnesses
64EPower to arrest without warrant
64FPower to search arrested person; power to seize offensive weapons
64GDisposal of seized documents or thing
65Administration of this Part
65AProvisions relating to enforcement officers
65BPower to record, etc.
65COffence of obstructing Director‑General, etc.
66Saving and transitional provisions
67Repealed

8Maintenance of Wife, Incapacitated Husband and Children

68Duty of parents to maintain children
69Court may order maintenance of wife, incapacitated husband and children
70Duty to maintain child accepted as member of family
70ARecovery of sums expended to maintain child accepted as member of family
71Court’s power to make attachment of earnings order for maintenance under section 69 or 70, etc.
71ARepealed
71BRepealed
71CRepealed
72Rescission and variation of order
73Power of court to vary agreement for maintenance of child
74Repealed
75Application of Act to orders made under repealed Minor Offences Ordinance, etc.

9Enforcement of Maintenance Orders

76Interpretation of this Part
77Appointment of Chief MEO and other MEO
78Enforcement of maintenance orders made by General Division of High Court
79Powers of court relating to witnesses in maintenance enforcement proceedings
79ARepealed
80Application for maintenance enforcement order — by and to whom
81Court orders on maintenance enforcement application
81ARepealed
82Reinstatement of maintenance enforcement application
83Arrears report to designated credit bureau
84Referral to MEO
85Referral by MEO for financial assistance
86Powers of MEO and court to direct, require or order provision of information, etc.
87Non‑compliance with directions given under section 86(1)
88Purpose and scope of conciliation session, etc.
89Submission of MEO’s report
90Redaction, significance and sharing of MEO’s report, etc.
91Reliance on previous MEO’s reports in subsequent enforcement proceedings, etc.
91AMinister’s power to make regulations for purposes of this Division and sections 77 and 83
91BMeaning of “maintenance enforcement order”
91CAmount of payment to be directed under attachment of earnings order
91DDischarge, variation or cessation of attachment of earnings order made
91EDuty to comply with attachment of earnings order
91FAdditional powers of court to obtain information relating to attachment of earnings order
91GObligation to notify changes of employment and earnings
91HPower of court to determine what are earnings
91ITreatment of moneys received under attachment of earnings order
91JEarnings paid by Government or out of Consolidated Fund
91KPenalties for non‑compliance with attachment of earnings order and for giving false notice or statement
91LBanker’s guarantee
91MFinancial counselling
91NCommunity service orders
91OImprisonment for breaching show‑payment order
91PImprisonment for breaching maintenance order
91QOther orders on sentences of imprisonment
91RRecovery of maintenance arrears
91SImmunity and offence relating to access, use or disclosure of information under this Part
91TContempt of court orders under this Part

9AAdditional Provisions Relating to Part 7, 8 or 9

91UPower of Family Court to refuse order where proceedings more convenient in General Division of High Court
91VAppeal
91WCosts of proceedings
91XDivision not applicable to criminal proceedings

Part 10

92Interpretation of this Part
93Jurisdiction of court in matrimonial proceedings
94Restriction on filing of originating application for divorce during first 3 years of marriage
94AParenting programme
95Divorce may be granted only if marriage has irretrievably broken down, etc.
95AWhat constitutes the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage
96Rules to provide for agreements to be referred to court
97Intervention of Attorney-General
98Relief for other party in divorce proceedings
99Interim judgment and proceedings thereafter
100Proceedings for interim judgment of presumption of death and divorce
100ARescission of interim judgment in certain circumstances where one party misled by other party
101Judicial separation
102Judicial separation no bar to originating application for divorce
103Judicially separated spouses not entitled to claim in intestacy of each other
104Originating application for nullity of marriage
105Grounds on which marriage is void
106Grounds on which marriage is voidable
107Bars to relief where marriage is voidable
108Marriage governed by foreign law
109Application of sections 97 and 99 to nullity proceedings
110Effect of judgment of nullity in case of voidable marriage
111Legitimacy of children of annulled marriages
112Power of court to order division of matrimonial assets
113Power of court to order maintenance
114Assessment of maintenance
115Power of court to order security for maintenance
116Compounding of maintenance
117Duration of orders for maintenance
118Power of court to vary orders for maintenance
119Power of court to vary agreements for maintenance
120Maintenance payable under order of court to be inalienable
121Repealed
121AInterpretation and application of this Chapter
121BApplications for financial relief after overseas divorce, etc.
121CJurisdiction of court
121DPermission of court required for applications for financial relief
121EInterim orders for financial provision
121FDuty of court to consider whether Singapore is appropriate forum for application
121GOrders for financial relief
122Meaning of “child”
123Arrangements for welfare of children
124Orders on welfare of children
125Paramount consideration to be welfare of child
126Orders subject to conditions
126AEnforcement of custody order, etc.
126BEnforcement of child access order
127Power of court to order maintenance for children
128Power of court to vary order for custody, etc.
129Power of court to vary agreement for custody, etc.
130Court to have regard to advice of welfare officers, etc.
131Power of court to restrain taking of child out of Singapore
132Repealed
132AProgrammes for children
133Procedure
134Evidence
135Repealed
136Repealed
137Appeals
138Power to allow intervention on terms
139Repealed

10AAmicable Settlement of Disputes

139AInterpretation of this Part
139BEvidence of things done, etc., under Division 3 or 4 not admissible
139CAppointment of conciliation officers
139DSettlement of differences between husband and wife by conciliation officers
139EProceedings to which this Division applies
139FCourt to consider, and may facilitate, reconciliation
139GResumption of proceedings
139HMediation by consent
139IMediation, counselling and family support programmes in matrimonial proceedings involving prescribed persons
139JMediation, counselling and family support programmes in other proceedings

10BCourt’S Power to Set Aside and Prevent Dispositions Intended to Defeat Maintenance Claims or Other Orders in Matrimonial Proceedings

139KInterpretation of this Part
139LApplication of this Part
139MPower of court to set aside or prevent dispositions

10CReplacement Because of Death

139NInterpretation of this Part
139OCourt’s power to order replacement for deceased applicant in proceedings
139PCourt’s power to order replacement for deceased payee, etc.

11Offences Against Women and Girls

140Offences relating to prostitution
141Traffic in women and girls
142Importation of woman or girl by false pretences
143Permitting girl below the age of 16 to use premises for sexual penetration
144Permitting woman with mental impairment to use premises for sexual penetration
145Causing or encouraging prostitution of, girl below the age of 18 or sexual penetration with, or indecent assault on, girl below the age of 16
146Persons living on or trading in prostitution, etc.
146ARemote communication service used for offering or facilitating provision of sexual services, etc.
147Suppression of places of assignation
148Suppression of brothels
149Notice to owner and occupier
150Termination of tenancy of places on conviction for permitting use as brothel, etc.
151Demolition of structural contrivances for facilitating running of place of assignation or of brothel
152Authority of courts to issue arrest and search warrants
153Trials in private in certain cases
154Trial of offences
155Detention pending judicial proceedings
156Director‑General may examine women and girls and person in charge of them
157Inspection
158Security on departure of woman or girl from Singapore
159Woman or girl below the age of 21 trained or used for immoral purposes, etc.
160Director‑General may order detention or commitment of woman or girl in certain cases
160AGiving medical treatment, etc., to women and girls detained or committed to care under section 160
161Period of detention or commitment of woman or girl
162Marriage not to be contracted without consent of Director‑General
163Women and girls in urgent need of refuge
164Transfer of women or girls from one place of safety to another place of safety within Singapore, etc.
165Repealed
166Appeal
167Repealed
168Repealed
169Women and girls detained to be subject to rules
170Director‑General may cause persons to be photographed
171Power to summon and examine persons in certain circumstances
172Record of evidence
173Power of search
174Power of arrest and seizure
175Presumption arising out of warrants
176Appointment of officers
177Minister may establish places of safety
177ARestriction on publishing information, etc., leading to identification of women and girls in places of safety, etc.
178Boards of Visitors
179Discharge Committees

12Miscellaneous

179AFamily Justice Rules
180Rules
180AProtection from personal liability
181Marriages solemnised before 15 September 1961 deemed to be registered under this Act
182Voluntary registration of marriages solemnised before 15 September 1961 or validated by section 184
183Recognition of marriages contracted in Embassies, etc., in Singapore
184Validity of customary marriages contracted on or after 15 September 1961 and before 2 June 1967
185Saving for petitions presented before 1 June 1981
186Savings for proceedings before 1 May 1997

Schedules

1Kindred and affinityprohibited degrees of relationship
2Consents required to the marriage of a minor

Women’s Charter 1961 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 10

126A. Enforcement of custody order, etc.

No plain-English summary for s 126A yet. See the rest of this law

Amended

Last amended by an amending law of 2022.

Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged

(1)

This section applies where —

(a)

the court makes an order for a child to be placed in the custody, or the care and control, of a person; and

(b)

the child leaves, or is removed from, the physical custody of that person.

(2)

To enforce the order, the court may —

(a)

order that the child be returned to the physical custody of the person mentioned in subsection (1)(a); and

(b)

direct the bailiff to seize the child and deliver the child to the physical custody of that person.

Terms defined in s 122

child
Defined · s 122
“child” means a child of the marriage as defined in section 92 but who is below 21 years of age.
Open s 122

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Read on from s 126B

Part 10A

Amicable Settlement of Disputes

Read on from Part 10A

Part 10B

Court’S Power to Set Aside and Prevent Dispositions Intended to Defeat Maintenance Claims or Other Orders in Matrimonial Proceedings

Read on from Part 10B

Part 10C

Replacement Because of Death

Read on from Part 10C

Part 11

Offences Against Women and Girls

Read on from Part 11

Part 12

Miscellaneous

Read on from Part 12

Schedules

Read on from Schedules

Details

Women’s Charter 1961 · s 126A

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Where this comes from

Singapore Statutes Online · Women’s Charter 1961, 2020 Revised Edition. Reader record updated on 7 Oct 2026.

Singapore legislation is Government copyright, used with the permission of the Attorney-General’s Chambers. Check Singapore Statutes Online for the latest version.

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