REGISTRARS CIRCULAR NO 18 OF 2020

Filing of Divorce Applications

1. Between 2 July 2020 and 2 September 2020 (both dates inclusive), the Court Registry will accept filing of new divorce applications which satisfy the following conditions only:

(a) The applicant/intended Plaintiff has completed the Marriage Counselling Programme (“MCP”) and a letter has been issued by the MCP Agency for the Filing of Originating Summons for Divorce

(b) The last counselling date in the letter is (i) between 7 October 2019 and 1 December 2019; (ii) between 2 December 2019 and 1 January 2020; or (iii) between 2 January 2020 and 6 April 2020; and

(c) The last date for filing the Originating Summons for Divorce is (i) between 7 April 2020 and 1 June 2020; (ii) between 2 June 2020 and 1 July 2020; or (iii) between 2 July 2020 to 6 October 2020.

2. For cases with a filing deadline that falls (i) between 7 April 2020 and 1 June 2020 (both dates inclusive), being the Circuit Breaker period; or (ii) between 2 June 2020 and 27 July 2020 (both dates inclusive), being the equivalent period immediately after the Circuit Breaker, which has already passed as at the date of filing the divorce application, the applicant/intended Plaintiff may, at the same time as filing the Originating Summons for Divorce, file the Originating Summons for Divorce pursuant to section 46(A) of the Administration of Muslim Law Act in Form 6A and a supporting affidavit. For the avoidance of doubt, this paragraph applies only to divorce applications made before 31 July 2020.

3. A sample template of Form 6A and the supporting affidavit for the purpose of paragraph 2 of this Circular may be obtained at our website at www.syariahcourt.gov.sg.

Court’s Commissioner for Oaths

4. The Court’s Commissioner for Oaths may take an affirmation only from a party who acts in person in respect of the following documents prepared using the applicable standard forms and exhibiting the required standard documents: (a) A Case Statement or Amended Case Statement; (b) A Memorandum of Appearance or Amended Memorandum of Defence; (c) An affidavit in support of Originating Summons for leave under section 46A of the Administration of Muslim Law Act, provided the divorce application falls within paragraph 2 of this Circular.

5. The above applies until 31 July 2020, or such later date as the Registrar may direct.

Court’s Process Server

6. The services of the Court’s Process Server will be prioritised for cases with upcoming scheduled hearing dates.

7. The services of the Court’s Process Server will not be available for any application (filed by Litigants-in-person), except for the service process of Originating Summons for Divorce, until 31 July 2020, or such later date as the Registrar may direct.

General

8. Court users and members of the public who wish to seek clarification on this matter may call 63548371 or email MCCY_Syariah@mccy.gov.sg.

For general information on court processes and procedures, they may visit our website at www.syariahcourt.gov.sg.