Family Justice Courts of Singapore
Family Justice Courts of Singapore (FJC) comprise the Youth Courts, Family Courts and High Courts (Family Division).[2]
Family Justice Courts of Singapore | |
---|---|
Jurisdiction | Singapore |
Location | Family Justice Courts, No 3 Havelock Square, Singapore 059725 |
Composition method | Judges are appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Chief Justice |
Website | https://www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg/ |
Presiding Judge | |
Currently | Debbie Ong[1] |
Since | 30 September 2017 |
The Youth Courts hear cases related to children and young persons. It was formerly the Juvenile Courts under the civil division State Courts of Singapore.
The Family Courts hear all family proceedings except cases under the Children and Young Persons Act, which are heard by the Youth Courts. It was formerly under the civil division of the State Courts of Singapore.
The Family Division of the High Court primarily hears appeals against the decisions of the Family Courts and the Youth Courts.
History
In 2013, the Committee for Family Justice was formed to review how Singapore’s family justice system may be reformed to address the needs of youth and families in distress. It recommended setting up the Family Justice Court.[3]
The Family Justice Courts of Singapore are established pursuant to the Family Justice Act[4] which was passed by the Singapore Parliament on 4 August 2014.
Legislation
The FJC deals with cases involving the following legislations:[5]
- Family Justice Act[6]
- Administration of Muslim Law Act (Cap. 3)
- Adoption of Children Act (Cap. 4)
- Children and Young Persons Act (Cap. 38)
- Criminal Procedure Code (Cap. 68)
- Family Justice Act 2014 (Act 27 of 2014)
- Guardianship of Infants Act (Cap. 122)
- Inheritance (Family Provision) Act (Cap. 138)
- International Child Abduction Act (Cap. 143C)
- Intestate Succession Act (Cap. 146)
- Legitimacy Act (Cap. 162)
- Maintenance of Parents Act (Cap. 167B)
- Maintenance Orders (Facilities for Enforcement) Act (Cap. 168)
- Maintenance Orders (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act (Cap. 169)
- Mental Capacity Act (Cap. 177A)
- Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act (Cap. 178A)
- Probate and Administration Act (Cap. 251)
- Status of Children (Assisted Reproduction Technology) Act 2013 (Act 16 of 2013)
- Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Cap. 322)
- Voluntary Sterilization Act (Cap. 347)
- Wills Act (Cap 352)
- Women’s Charter (Cap. 353)
It handled a total of 27,228 cases in 2015.
iFAMS
Integrated Family Application Management System (iFAMS) is an end-to-end paperless system that predominantly deals with family-related cases brought before FJC.[7]
References
- "High Court to get four new judges". Straitstimes.com. 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
- StateCourts. "Overview". www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-03.
- "Recommendations of the Committee for Family Justice on the framework of the family justice system" (PDF).
- "Second Reading Speech by Minister for Law, K Shanmugam, on the Family Justice Bill - Ministry of Law".
- StateCourts. "Legislation and Directions". www.familyjusticecourts.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-02.
- "FAMILY JUSTICE ACT 2014".
- "Application forms for protection and maintenance orders can now be prepared online".