The social stigmas that divorce brings oftentimes hinder a spouse from stepping out of a marriage that is on the verge of breaking down. Such stigmas though are unavoidable and, yes, conquerable especially when the parties involved choose to seek the help of competent family lawyers in Singapore.
Professional family lawyers in Singapore can help couples end their marriage without suffering from a lot of bitterness, distress and humiliation and can nullify their marital contracts with a fair hand through proper legal counsel. Marriages are contracts that bind two people to fulfill certain responsibilities they have to each other and to children they create in the marriage. When one or both party neglect these responsibilities, a petition for divorce can be filed to end such a contract.
Divorce in Singapore is governed by two laws. These are the Women’s Charter (for non-Muslim) and the Muslim laws. Muslim divorces are processed by the the Shariah Court, the Muslim Law Court. This entity is similar to the non-Muslim Supreme court and as such, this court can approve or reject the request of divorce through the decision of the president of the Shariah Court.
The non-Muslim Women’s Charter Act is an act that helps keep an eye on monogamous marriages, the protection of women, the duties and rights of married individuals, the privileges and rights of wives and children, and divorces. This law states that either spouse can file a divorce petition on the following grounds: desertion after three years, adultery, cruelty, seven years of living separately, and mental illness. A woman can also file for divorce on the grounds that her husband has sodomized, raped, committed bigamy or bestiality while they were married.
For anyone to petition for divorce the concerned couple should be a resident in Singapore and must be married for at least three years. An exception though is made for a petitioner whose marriage is less than three years. This case may be entertained on the grounds of exceptional hardship or the exceptional depravity of the other spouse.