How to file and serve divorce papers (normal track)

Note

Before you file

Before you file your divorce application, make sure you understand:

If you are filing the divorce application, you are the plaintiff.

Your spouse is the defendant.

Note

Key facts

Refer to the following on how you can file and serve your divorce papers.

Eligibility to file	Depending on the facts you are relying on to show your marriage has irretrievably broken down.
When to serve	As soon as possible after the court has accepted your divorce papers.
How to file	Through eLitigation.

How to file and serve

Refer to the following for the steps to file and serve your divorce papers.

Step	Result
1. File your divorce papers	The court will accept or reject your application.
2. Collect the approved documents	You will receive a copy of the sealed documents via eLitigation.
3. Serve papers on the defendant	The defendant is notified that you have started divorce proceedings.

You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer.

If you are representing yourself, you must file the divorce papers through eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

You must follow Part 5 of Division 2 of the Family Justice Rules and the Family Justice Courts (FJC) Practice Directions to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.

Your divorce papers will then be submitted to the Family Courts for review.

The LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau will notify you via email or SMS of the outcome of your submission. If the court accepts your divorce papers, they will contain the respective court's seal and registrar's signature.

A divorce case number will also be assigned to your divorce application.

You will have to collect the approved divorce papers for service on the defendant from the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

You must serve the sealed documents on the defendant as soon as possible after the court accepts your divorce papers.

This is to alert the defendant that you have started the divorce proceedings in court.

How you can serve

You can serve your divorce papers on the defendant through one of the following ways:

Service method	What it is
Personal service	Hard copies of the documents will be handed directly to the defendant by someone authorised to do so such as: A lawyer or a lawyer’s clerk whose name and particulars have been notified to the court to serve the documents. (If you have special reasons) A court process server.
Registered post	Sending hard copies of the documents in an envelope to either of the following: The defendant's last known residential address (If a lawyer represents the defendant)The lawyer's registered address. The court accepts this form of service only if the defendant or their lawyer signs and returns the Acknowledgment of Service Form to you.
eLitigation	(If a lawyer represents the defendant) Submitting soft copies of the documents to the defendant's lawyer. The court accepts this form of service only if the defendant's lawyer indicates on the documents that they accept service on behalf of the defendant.

Service method

What it is

Personal service

Hard copies of the documents will be handed directly to the defendant by someone authorised to do so such as:

A lawyer or a lawyer’s clerk whose name and particulars have been notified to the court to serve the documents.
(If you have special reasons) A court process server.

Registered post

Sending hard copies of the documents in an envelope to either of the following:

The defendant's last known residential address
(If a lawyer represents the defendant)The lawyer's registered address.

The court accepts this form of service only if the defendant or their lawyer signs and returns the Acknowledgment of Service Form to you.

eLitigation

(If a lawyer represents the defendant) Submitting soft copies of the documents to the defendant's lawyer.

The court accepts this form of service only if the defendant's lawyer indicates on the documents that they accept service on behalf of the defendant.

If you are unable to find the defendant or if there are difficulties serving the divorce papers, you will have to file a summons supported by an affidavit (Form 171, FJC Practice Directions) to ask for leave (permission) from the court to serve the copies by other modes or to dispense (forgo) with the service.

If the defendant is located outside of Singapore (out of jurisdiction), refer to How to serve court documents to find out the process of serving documents out of jurisdiction.

After you file

The defendant may file the following documents after you have served the divorce papers on them.

The defendant will file the following:

The Memorandum of Appearance (MOA) (Defendant) Form (Form 18, FJC Practice Directions) within 8 days (if the defendant is located in Singapore) or within 21 days (if the defendant is located outside of Singapore).
A defence (or a defence and counterclaim) within 14 days of filing the MOA.
- If the defendant intends to file a counterclaim, they will have to attend the Mandatory Co-Parenting Programme (CPP) at the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) if there are any children under 21 years of age.
- You have 14 days to file your reply (or reply and defence to counterclaim) if you wish to do so.
- If you file a reply and defence to counterclaim, the defendant has 14 days to file a reply.
The Defendant's Proposed Parenting Plan Form (Form 24, FJC Practice Directions) within 14 days of filing the MOA.
- If the defendant agrees with your proposed parenting plan, you will receive the Defendant's Agreement (Parenting Plan) Form (Form 23, FJC Practice Directions) instead.
(If you own a Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat with the defendant)The Defendant's Proposed (Matrimonial Property Plan) Form (Form 26, FJC Practice Directions) and the Particulars of Housing Arrangement Form (Form 13, FJC Practice Directions) within 14 days of filing the MOA.
- If the defendant agrees with your proposed matrimonial property plan, you will receive the Defendant's Agreement (Matrimonial Property Plan) Form (Form 25, FJC Practice Directions) and the Particulars of Housing Arrangement Form (Form 13, FJC Practice Directions) instead.

You will then have to inform the court that you are ready for your divorce case to be heard (setting down).

If the defendant agrees to the divorce but not the ancillary matters, they will file the following:

The Memorandum of Appearance (MOA) (Defendant) Form (Form 18, FJC Practice Directions) within 8 days (if the defendant is located in Singapore) or within21 days (if the defendant is located outside of Singapore).
- Their MOA will indicate an agreement to the divorce and for the court to decide on the ancillary matters.
The Defendant's Proposed Parenting Plan Form (Form 24, FJC Practice Directions) within 14 days of filing the MOA.
- If the defendant agrees with your proposed parenting plan, you will receive the Defendant's Agreement (Parenting Plan) Form (Form 23, FJC Practice Directions) instead.
(If you own a Housing & Development Board (HDB) flat with the defendant)The Defendant's Proposed (Matrimonial Property Plan) Form (Form 26, FJC Practice Directions) and the Particulars of Housing Arrangement Form (Form 13, FJC Practice Directions) within 14 days of filing the MOA.
- If the defendant agrees with your proposed matrimonial property plan, you will receive the Defendant's Agreement (Matrimonial Property Plan) Form (Form 25, FJC Practice Directions) and the Particulars of Housing Arrangement Form (Form 13, FJC Practice Directions) instead.

You will then have to inform the court that you are ready for your divorce case to be heard by filing a request for a hearing. This is known as setting down.

Need help?

The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may want to get independent legal advice.

Find out more

Resources

Refer to:

Divorce in Singapore: the essentials.
- English (PDF, 776 KB)
- Chinese (PDF, 753 KB)
- Malay (PDF, 507 KB)
- Tamil (PDF, 3574 KB)
Divorce in Singapore: processes in a glance (PDF, 276 KB)
Case management handbook for divorce matters (PDF, 4721 KB).
(For lawyers) Divorce eService (PDF, 219 KB).
Information sheet (PDF, 188 KB) on Registrar's Empowerment Clause.
Sample Affidavit (Word, 29 KB) for use in cases in which the Registrar's Empowerment Clause requires one party to give notice to the other party.