Does my maintenance enforcement application fall under the new Maintenance Enforcement Process?

1. A maintenance order refers to an order for the provision of support (financial in nature) for wives, children, incapacitated husbands or parents.  A maintenance enforcement application refers to an application to enforce an existing maintenance order if the respondent does not comply with it.

2. In order for the new maintenance enforcement process ("MEP") to apply, (a) your maintenance enforcement application must be to enforce the applicable type of maintenance order; and (b) your maintenance enforcement application must satisfy certain criteria.

   What kind of maintenance orders does the MEP apply to?

3. Only maintenance enforcement applications to enforce the following types of maintenance order can be referred to a Maintenance Enforcement Officer ("MEO") under the new MEP:

   Women's Charter 1961

   Administration of Muslim Law Act 1966

   Maintenance of Parents Act 1995

   Guardianship of Infants Act 1934

4. Enforcement of maintenance orders under the Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1975 will not be presently referred to the MEO. These refer to:

   (a) maintenance orders made in Singapore to be enforced in a reciprocating country; and

   (b) maintenance orders made in reciprocating countries to be enforced in Singapore.

   What kind of maintenance enforcement orders does the MEP apply to?

5. The court may refer a maintenance enforcement application to a Maintenance Enforcement Officer (MEO) if it is either:

   (a) a first-time application to enforce a maintenance order for arrears of at least $10,000; or

   (b) a second or subsequent maintenance enforcement applications to enforce a maintenance order.

6. The MEP will be expanded to apply to more categories of maintenance enforcement applications in later phases.

👉 Click here for more information relating to maintenance.