Originating Application for Permission to Apply for Divorce Within 3 Years of Marriage

(1) Case Information

Party List

Fig 1. Click on “Add Party”. You will need to add at least one party in order to proceed with the rest of the application.

Fig 1a. Enter all the mandatory information. Click “Save” when you are done.

Application

Fig 2. The Nature of Case is reflected.

Endorsements

Fig 3. Select the type of Originating Application you are filing.

Other Relief(s)

Fig 4. If the Applicant is seeking any other relief(s), click “Add Prayers” and proceed to Fig 4a.

Note: A standard prayer will be generated with the application by default.

Fig 4a. Provide the details of the reliefs sought in the textbox provided. If you would like to add another prayer, click “Add Prayers” again.

Costs

Fig 5. Select the manner in which the costs of this summons the applying party is asking to be ordered.

• If “Costs to be paid by” is selected, provide the name or party that will pay the costs.

• If “Others” is selected, provide details of how the costs will be paid.

Supporting Documents

Fig 6. Click “Add Document” to add supporting documents as annexures to the Originating Application.

Fig 6a. Enter the number of “Other document” that you wish to add, and click “Add”.

Fig 6b. Enter document name in the textbox. Click “Choose File” to select the file from the browser dialog box. Click the icon to upload the document.

Affidavit Deponent

Fig 7. Click on “Add Deponent”. You will need to add at least 1 deponent in order to proceed with the rest of the application.

Fig 7a. Select the deponent of the affidavit. Upon selection, the party’s details will be displayed. Click “Add”. If the deponent is not a party to the proceedings, select “Others” to add them to the deponent list (refer to Fig 7b).

Fig 7b. Provide the necessary details. Click “Add” when you are done.

Fig 8. Enter the details accordingly.

Marriage

Fig 9. Enter the date of solemnisation of marriage, and select the country of solemnisation from the drop-down list.

Fig 9a. Select the appropriate option regarding the marriage certificate, if applicable.

Jurisdiction

This section involves confirmation that the Family Justice Courts of Singapore has the legal power to grant the filed Application.

Fig 10. Indicate the reason(s) Family Justice Courts has the jurisdiction to grant the application.

• If “Singapore citizenship” is auto selected, proceed to Fig 10a.

• If you select “Habitual Residence”, proceed to Figs 11a - 11a(ii).

• If you select “Others”, proceed to Fig 11b.

Fig 10a. The system will auto-detect if the Applicant and/or the Respondent are Singapore Citizens. You can edit, if necessary.

Fig 11a. Select the applicable option regarding the Applicant/Respondent’s habitual residence.

Fig 11a(i). Click “Add Address” to add details about the parties’ addresses, and proceed to Fig 11a(ii).

Fig 11a(ii). Enter the necessary details and click “Proceed” when you are done.

Fig 11b. Enter the details in the text box provided.

Children

Fig 12. Indicate if there are children to this marriage, or children accepted in this marriage.

• If “Yes” is selected, refer to Fig 12a.

• If “No” is selected, proceed to Fig 13 (Reasons for Application).

Fig 12a. Click “Add Child Details” to provide details of the child(ren), and proceed to Fig 12a(i).

Fig 12a(i). Enter the necessary details and click “Add” when you are done.

Reasons for Application

Fig 13. Select the applicable statement(s).

Fig 13a. Provide reasons for the statement(s) selected above.

Fig 13b. State if there were previous applications for permission to commence divorce proceedings. If so, provide the details of the proceedings.

Possibility of Reconciliation

Fig 14. State if there is any possibility of reconciliation between the parties.

Fig 14a. Provide reasons for the answer selected above.

Fig 14b. State if there were previous attempts at reconciliation. If so, provide the details of the attempts.

• Click on the “Add Details” button to add the details of any additional attempts at reconciliation.

Summary of Claim

Fig 15. Confirm the relief(s) that the Applicant is seeking.

Affirmation

Fig 16. State if the Filing Party swears to or affirms the document. Provide details of the date and place that this document was sworn / affirmed, especially if the document is to be digitally signed. Indicate if interpretation is required and if the document needs to be read audibly to the deponent.

Exhibits

Fig 17. Enter a prefix for the exhibits supporting this affidavit. The prefix should be the initials of the deponent’s name, e.g. TBH for Tan Beng Huat.

You may click the “Preview Affidavit” button to view a generated affidavit based on the information entered thus far in the sections above in order to fill in the Reference in Affidavit to the exhibit field.

Fig 18. A list of documents will be reflected in the Exhibit Table. For each applicable document in the table, you will be required to upload a file to the system. Click “Choose File” to open a browser dialog box to select a file for uploading.

If you wish to attach additional documents to the table, click “Add Document”.

If any of the listed document is not applicable, click on the button to delete that row.

If there is a document which is applicable, but you are unable to provide at the time of filing, click on the button to delete that row. You will be required to explain the reasons for the lack of documents in Table 2, as shown in Fig 19.

Fig 18a. Indicate the number of documents the deponent wishes to add and click “Add”.

Fig 18b. The line entries for exhibits will generate based on the deponent’s input on the number of documents to add. Indicate the title of the document and the paragraph reference to the affidavit (using the preview of the generated affidavit). The deponent will be required to upload a file for each document listed in the table. Click “Choose File” to open a browser dialog box to select a file, and click the icon to upload the document.

Fig 19. If you are unable to provide any documents or wish to explain why a certain document cannot be provided, click “Add Document” at Table 2.

Fig 19a. Indicate the number of documents you wish to add and click “Add”.

Fig 19b. Indicate the name of document not provided and the reasons for lack of document, or details of alternative document provided. If you are unable to provide any details or wish to delete any line entry, click on the button to delete the document’s row.

(2) Forms

Fig 20. Click on the icon to view the eForm. The eForm will be generated based on the details provided in the Case Information section. If you would like to file other supporting documents to the case, click “Add Document”.

Fig 21. You will be presented with an eForm.

Fig 22. To initiate the signing process, click the “Confirm” button located at the bottom of both eForms.

Fig 22a. The row of the eForm will be updated with new buttons.

• To change the information in the generated form, click “Previous” to return to the Case Information section and amend the information first. Then click the button in Step 2 to generate a new form with the updated details. Then click the “Confirm” button located at the bottom of the eForm.
• Click the “Finalise Document” button to start the signing process. The “Finalise Document” button will only be enabled after all eForms are confirmed and all documents to be uploaded in Step 2 have been uploaded.

Fig 22b. The row of the eForm will be updated with new buttons if the document requires a signature. You may choose either digital signing or offline signing.

To start digital signing, click the button.

• You will be taken to the Document Signing Service (“DSS”) portal.

• Please refer to "eLitigation FAQ > Document Signing Service (DSS) Guide for eLitigation Users > How do I request signatures with DSS?" for a step-by-step guide on how to sign your documents with DSS.
• DSS will pre-populate the list of signers based on the details in the Case Information section. Do check that the list of signers is correct before proceeding. You can add or remove the signers, if necessary.

• The eForm in Step 2 will automatically be made available in DSS for online signing.

To start offline signing, click the button to download the document and proceed to Fig 22c.

Fig 22c. A new row will be displayed.

• You will no longer be able to make changes to the data in the form. If you wish to make changes to the data, click the “Cancel Finalised Document” button. All previously signed documents will be removed from Step 2. Return to Step 1 to make changes to the data and then return to Step 2 and click to regenerate the eForms based on the updated data. You will be required to confirm all the eForms again to activate the “Finalise Documents” button again.

• If you wish to retract the offline signing, click on the icon.

• Click the button to upload the manually signed copy.

Upon successfully completing the signing procedure (regardless of which method was chosen), the “Next” button should be enabled. Click on the “Next” button to proceed to Step 3: Admin Details.

(3) Admin Details

Fig 23. In Step 3: Admin Details, indicate any urgent processing, special request or waiver required. You can also opt to eServe the documents to another law firm.

(4) Submission

Fig 24. In Step 4: Submission, review all information and documents before submission. Upon acceptance / approval by Court, the documents will be sent to your eLitigation inbox.