Marriage Counselling Programme

Process

You are required to attend the Marriage Counselling Programme before you file an application for divorce. In addition, if you have a child below 21 years old, you must also complete the Parenting Programme. Registration for the Marriage Counselling Programme must be submitted at the Syariah Court.  

If you are suffering from critical illness or terminal illness, or have a physical disability or infirmity, that renders it impractical or impossible for you to attend the Marriage Counselling Programme, please provide proof of your medical condition. For example, a letter from a registered medical practitioner, which should be dated not more than 1 month before the date of submitting your registration form for the Marriage Counselling Programme.

Marriage Counselling Programme

If your registration form is complete, you will receive a referral letter from the Syariah Court to attend the Marriage Counselling Programme at one of our appointed community agencies. The Marriage Counselling Programme is compulsory. It aims to provide you and your spouse with a safe and neutral platform to discuss your marriage and understand the impact of divorce. If you require additional support, the counsellor may refer you to other relevant agencies.

Parenting Programme

If you decide to proceed with divorce and have at least one child below 21 years old, your counsellor will facilitate a Parenting Programme with you and your spouse. The Parenting Programme focuses on co-parenting skills and your children’s care arrangements after the divorce.

If there is mutual agreement on the parenting plan, both of you must complete and *sign the Agreed Parenting Plan Form before filing the application for divorce. *Please note that your spouse (the Defendant) must affirm his/her signature before a Commissioner for Oaths.  

If your child is below 12 years old and enrolled in the Baby Bonus Scheme, the parent with care and control of the child should be the cash gift recipient and/or Child Development Account (CDA) trustee.  You are encouraged to discuss and mutually agree with your spouse on these arrangements during the Parenting Programme.  If/when you have an interim/final Court Order for custody, care and control of your child, please submit a copy to msf_babybonus@msf.gov.sg.  This will ensure that your child will continue to benefit from the Baby Bonus Scheme. 

If there is no mutual agreement on the Parenting Plan, you (the Plaintiff) must complete and submit the Proposed Parenting Plan Form instead.

If you decide not to proceed with divorce, you may close your case.

You may download the Agreed / Proposed Parenting Plan forms from our website.

Session with Resource Person (Asatizah)

If you require clarification on Muslim law relating to marriage and divorce, your counsellor will engage a Resource Person to assist you. All Resource Persons are registered 'Asatizah' under MUIS' Asatizah Recognition Scheme. The session with the Resource Person is free.