Singapore Expats

Filing for divorce while living overseas

A moderated forum for serious discussions only.
Post Reply
addiegirl
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri, 09 Nov 2012 4:19 am

Filing for divorce while living overseas

Post by addiegirl » Fri, 08 Jun 2018 3:05 pm

I've been reading up and looking for every topic related to divorce in this forum and online and am feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed. I'm hoping I can find some answers here and thank you all for your time. This is going to be a long read, please bear with me.

My husband and I are both from the Philippines but we got married in Singapore in June 2010. I moved out of our home in Sengkang when we broke up in 2015 and I moved back to the Philippines in September 2016. Long story short, I only decided to get a divorce recently because I decided that I want to get into a relationship again.

When i told my ex in March this year that I wanted a divorce, he's been trying to get back together with me and was still hoping that i will change my mind. He's been trying to buy me stuff and send me money even though i tell him no (I ended up accepting them anyway coz the kids dont stop eating and bills still need to be paid) and he helped me move to a new house and sent me 3k SGD. He said that he will always provide for the kids and things like that even though we are not together anymore. In all of this, I've always been vocal that the divorce is going to happen regardless and that we are not getting back together and I made it really clear that I've moved on.

When I was traveling through India in March to April, I met a guy online through a divorce support group. He was living in Egypt at the time and in April he surprised me with his ticket to the Philippines to come see me. He arrived in May and will be staying indefinitely.

Everything was ok until he found out recently that I started dating and that's when he started to make things really difficult. I didnt tell him I started seeing someone because I wanted to wait until the divorce is final and I honestly don't want him to get hurt. I was hoping that he'd find someone else in the meantime and he'll get over me. Afterall, we broke up 3 years ago, it should be a long enough time for him to have moved on and accepted that our marriage didn't work.

Anyway, now he refuses to talk to me and he hates me because he believes that I cheated on him. He stopped sending money for the kids and said that he will only pay for school and their allowance. Everything else he will not pay and he wants me to give him back the 3k that he sent me.I told him I will but I need time.

After that discussion with my (soon to be) ex-husband, I told my bf that my ex wont be sending any money anymore and we (bf and i) decided that instead of my bf paying for a condo and his other expenses, he will just move in with me and we will share expenses such as rent and utilities. I understand this may not be a very wise decision and will only agitate my ex even more (and it did) but it made the most practical sense to me at least.

I sent him a breakdown of the kids expenses and needs but he is determined to not send me any money at all. All the money he is sending for the kids' school fees he will send to my sister who is sympathetic to him and hates me for all that has happened. My ex told me that he will only spend for the kids needs if I will give up custody and have the kids and the maids live with my sister. I am obviously not doing that because that is the stupidest idea in the world. Seriously, who would take away the kids from their parent just so you can fulfill your hunger for vengeance and indulge your anger? is it really in the best interest of the kids to live in that kind of situation?

I have my own business and my bf is starting a job here soon as a software engineer. I am not rich but i am not poor by any stretch either. I have no interest in his money for my own personal needs especially that of my bf's (as what he's saying over and over) but I believe that he needs to provide for his kids and what they need. He is understandably angry and hurt and i feel insulted and hurt that my family would take his side without knowing the whole story of how our marriage broke down. I just want to move on and give the kids a normal, happy life.

Anyway, here are my questions.

1. How is the amount of child support determined?
2. How does the family court make sure that it is paid according to schedule?
3. Do I need to wait until there is final judgment before he starts paying child support?
4. Is it legal for him to send the kids monies to my sister instead of sending it to me? Can I ask the court to make him give to me directly instead of my sister?

I have no criminal record, I am sane and fully capable and able and am no threat to my children. So is my bf. Thanks again for your insights, I really appreciate it.

User avatar
PNGMK
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9206
Joined: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 9:06 pm
Answers: 11
Location: Sinkapore

Re: Filing for divorce while living overseas

Post by PNGMK » Fri, 08 Jun 2018 8:50 pm

You need competent qualified advice from a lawyer.

The big question is what jurisdiction are you going to apply for a divorce and child support under?

You are no longer resident in Singapore so you cannot go for a divorce in Singapore and my understanding is that a divorce is almost impossible in the PI thanks for the Catholics.

You may have to bribe a lawyer and judge in the PI to allow an annulment and place a child support court order. That seems to be what most of my PI friends have had to do. I don't know if you can divorce a non resident husband in the PI though.

Honestly you need to get your house in order. Stop adding complexities to the situation.
I not lawyer/teacher/CPA.
You've been arrested? Law Society of Singapore can provide referrals.
You want an International School job? School website or http://www.ISS.edu
Your rugrat needs a School? Avoid for profit schools
You need Tax advice? Ask a CPA
You ran away without doing NS? Shame on you!

addiegirl
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri, 09 Nov 2012 4:19 am

Re: Filing for divorce while living overseas

Post by addiegirl » Fri, 08 Jun 2018 9:05 pm

He is still working in Singapore and no plans to go back to the Philippines anytime soon. It was only me who moved back here.

You’re right, no divorce here but our marriage is not registered here in the Philippines either so there is no record of us being married as fas as the Phil govt is concerned.

Everything will be filed in Singapore and I checked the requirements online and i meet the requirements for getting a divorce in Sg.

User avatar
PNGMK
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 9206
Joined: Thu, 21 Mar 2013 9:06 pm
Answers: 11
Location: Sinkapore

Re: Filing for divorce while living overseas

Post by PNGMK » Fri, 08 Jun 2018 9:12 pm

addiegirl wrote:He is still working in Singapore and no plans to go back to the Philippines anytime soon. It was only me who moved back here.

You’re right, no divorce here but our marriage is not registered here in the Philippines either so there is no record of us being married as fas as the Phil govt is concerned.

Everything will be filed in Singapore and I checked the requirements online and i meet the requirements for getting a divorce in Sg.
Ok - well that's contradictory to my understanding and legal advice from here: https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-ar ... singapore/. You fail these two points:

1. Be domiciled in Singapore at the point of the commencement of divorce proceedings
2. Habitually resident in Singapore for at least 3 years, before the commencement of divorce proceedings

It doesn't matter where you marriage is registered- you cannot marry the Egyptian until you are divorced - that's bigamy.

However, if you can actually get Singapore divorce, property and custody/support orders for your children from Singapore that would be ideal considering your husband's assets and income are in Singapore. The amount of child support etc are all negotiable in my experience. Enforcement can be a bit of a bitch however (i.e. if he doesn't pay then it's going to be tough for you to enforce it from the PI and as far as the courts in the PI are concerned a Singapore court order is just toilet paper).

Your other questions:

Where to pay? As per court order usually to the mother.
How much? As much as the court determines the children need (this is done in pre court counselling and if often negotiable).
Custody: Singapore is supposedly moving to joint custody but unless your a hooker and taking drugs you should be able to get custody UNLESS your ex claims the children need to be in Singapore for education yada yada.
Property settlement / child support prior to a court order is negotiable but really up to the father. Without a court order there is no compulsion to do anything.
I not lawyer/teacher/CPA.
You've been arrested? Law Society of Singapore can provide referrals.
You want an International School job? School website or http://www.ISS.edu
Your rugrat needs a School? Avoid for profit schools
You need Tax advice? Ask a CPA
You ran away without doing NS? Shame on you!

rafael.lps
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon, 25 Jun 2018 7:14 am

Re: Filing for divorce while living overseas

Post by rafael.lps » Mon, 25 Jun 2018 7:29 am


Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Strictly Speaking”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 5 guests