Legal Insights
What is the difference between Grant of Probate & Letter of Administration?
You would need to apply to the court for a Grant of Probate if the deceased person had made a Will. The inheritance of the assets would go to the beneficiaries named in the Will....
Guide to Divorce in Singapore
Under Singapore divorce law, a divorce is the legal procedure that ends a marriage. When you get your Interim Judgment of Divorce, this is the end of the first stage of your...
What Happens to Your Assets if You Die Without a Will?
What happens to your assets if you die without a will? This article explores what happens to your assets if you pass away without making a will and addresses whether you might be...
Should I Send a Letter of Demand?
A letter of demand or LOD is a simple letter from one person to a third party, a company, or organisation requesting specific actions. A letter of demand doesn't have to be sent by...
Three PKWA Lawyers Named Singapore’s Rising Stars 2024
We are honoured to announce a significant achievement within our firm: three of our outstanding lawyers have been recognised as Singapore’s Rising Stars 2024 by Asian Legal...
Should You Get a Post-Nuptial Agreement?
You might think that a post-nuptial agreement is a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted, but a post-nuptial agreement can have relevance, and is a valid...
PKWA family lawyers win $6.3 million for homemaker wife in Appellate Division of High Court after 6 year divorce battle
PKWA Law Secures Over $6 Million in Matrimonial Assets for Homemaker in Long-Contested Divorce PKWA Law’s divorce lawyers have successfully secured over $6 million in...
Divorce by Mutual Agreement in Singapore: The New Law
From 1 July 2024, married couples can apply for divorce in Singapore by citing Divorce by Mutual Agreement (DMA). The enactment of this law has been anticipated for over two...
Singapore Rising Stars 2023 by Asian Legal Business
We congratulate our family lawyers Jessica Chow and Charlene Nah for being recognised as one of the Singapore Rising Stars 2023 by Asian Legal Business. The ALB Singapore...
PKWA LAW is named in Straits Times Best Law Firms 2024
We are pleased to share that PKWA Law Practice LLC has once again been named in The Straits Times' prestigious "Singapore's Best Law Firms" for 2024, marking our fourth consecutive...
How to protect digital assets in your Will
As our lives become more digital with social media, internet banking, online working, cryptocurrency, eBooks, the metaverse, digital art and NFTs, we inevitably need to consider...
Testamentary Trusts to Protect Your Children's Inheritance from Their Divorce
Many of our clients ask us what they can do to protect their hard-earned money when they pass it on to their children, and their son or daughter later goes through a messy divorce....
How to Remove an Executor in Singapore
Being named an executor by a friend or family member will have some important responsibilities. It means you have earned the trust and respect of the person who has made the will...
Contesting a Will in Singapore
Understanding Wills and Contesting Them in Singapore A will is a legal document created by a testator (the individual making the will) that outlines how their estate will be...
Murder and Manslaughter in Singapore
A person will face severe punishment if they take a life. It does not matter if they had the intention, were negligent, or reckless to the potential consequences of their actions...
Why it is best to use a lawyer to do your will in Singapore?
What is a will? A will (or testament) is a legal document expressing your wishes on how your estate is to be distributed after you die. It will cover everything you own,...
![What is the Protection from Harassment Act [POHA]?](https://pkwalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/poha-singapore.jpg)
What is the Protection from Harassment Act [POHA]?
The Protection from Harassment Act ("POHA") is a piece of legislation which came into force in November 2014. It was introduced to prevent harassment from taking place in Singapore...
Low Jin Liang named in ALB Singapore Rising Stars 2023
PKWA Law is pleased to announce that our family law partner Low Jin Liang has been named in Asian Legal Business (“ALB”) Singapore Rising Stars 2022. ALB Singapore Rising...
PKWA recognised as one of Singapore's best law firms 2023
We are delighted to announce that PKWA Law Practice LLC has again been recognised by The Straits Times’ in their third edition of “Singapore’s Best Law Firms” for 2023....
PKWA Law successfully acts for ex-wife in case where ex-husband “went all out to hide over $3 million” from her
This case was reported in the Straits Times on 23 October 2022. PKWA Law has successfully acted for the ex-wife in a divorce in which the ex-husband was found to...
Non Compete Clauses & Restraint of Trade
In Singapore, non-compete clauses are restraint of trade covenants and generally (prima facie) unenforceable. To enforce such a clause, the onus is on the employer to prove that...
Commissioners for Oaths Singapore
In Singapore, Commissioners for Oaths are appointed by the Board of Commissioners of Oaths and Notaries Public. The board is appointed by the Senate of the Singapore Academy of Law...
Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Whilst no specific law in Singapore deals with sexual harassment in the workplace; victims are protected under the Protection from Harassment Act (POHA) 2014. The POHA deals...
Guardianship in Singapore
In Singapore, the Guardianship of Infants Act of 1934 (GIA) governs the guardianship of minor children. It also deals with administering the assets of any child under guardianship...
Voyeurism in Singapore
From 1 January 2020, Singapore’s Penal Code provides for a specific offence of voyeurism. Previously, voyeurism-type offences were dealt with as “insult to modesty of women”,...
Breach of Employment Contract
In Singapore, employment is governed by the Employment Act of 1968 and common law. Seafarers, domestic workers, statutory board employees or civil servants do not fall under the...
Criminal Breach of Trust
Criminal breach of trust (CBT) is a serious offence in Singapore. A person found guilty of CBT can be sentenced to up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine or both. Several high-profile...
Misuse of Drugs Act in Singapore
Singapore has stringent drug laws. Despite these strict laws, or maybe because of them, many people are still arrested regularly for drug offences in Singapore. Sentencing varies...
Dorothy Tan - Top 100 Women in Litigation in Asia Pacific
PKWA Law is pleased to share that our family lawyer Dorothy Tan has been selected as one of the Top 100 Women in Litigation in Asia Pacific by the prestigious legal publication...
Doxxing in Singapore
Technology has many advantages and provides new ways to learn, communicate, share information, and connect with friends and family. However, it is not without risks. More and more...
Defamation in Singapore
The Singapore Constitution protects the right to free speech. However, this right can be restricted in certain circumstances to protect the good reputation of individuals and...
Finalist in three categories at the Asian Legal Business Law Awards 2022
PKWA Law is delighted to announce that we have, once again, been recognised as a leading family and matrimonial law firm by Asian Legal Business. In addition, Deputy Head of Family...
PKWA Law recognised as a leading Family Law firm in Benchmark Litigation ranking
PKWA Law is delighted to announce that we have once again been recognised as a leading Family and Matrimonial Law Firm in the Asia Pacific in the 2022 edition of Benchmark...
Outrage of Modesty
In Singapore, acts of sexual molestation are criminalised by section 354 of the Penal Code. It describes outrage of modesty as "assault or use of criminal force to any person,...
PKWA Law recognised in Doyles 2022 Awards
PKWA Law has been named by Doyles as one of the top leading Family & Divorce law firms in Singapore once again, cementing our position in the practice of family, divorce and...
Debt Repayment Scheme
Introduction to the Debt Repayment Scheme in Singapore In Singapore, the Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS) is an alternative to bankruptcy. It is a pre-bankruptcy procedure that aims to...
Dealing with Family Violence
"Family violence" in general terms refers to various forms of violence occurring within families. It is often referred to as domestic violence. Although spousal violence is the...
Trusts in Singapore
The super-wealthy has been using trusts to hold and pass on family wealth for decades, if not centuries. These days, trusts still offer many advantages for people seeking to...
HDB After Divorce - What Happens?
An HDB flat forms a significant portion of many Singapore couples' matrimonial assets. Couples contemplating divorce are often concerned about what would happen to their HDB flat...
HDB Inheritance Rules
Inheriting a Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat can be complicated and confusing. Many factors influence the process. Two important factors are whether the deceased had a...
Alimony in Singapore
Alimony refers to the legal obligation of one spouse to provide financial support to the other spouse or ex-spouse. This obligation arises from a divorce or family law. Alimony is...
Annulment of Marriage
Annulment is a legal process that ends a marriage. The consequence is that the marriage in effect never existed. After the annulment, the parties’ marital status will return to...
Child Custody, Care and Control and Access
Custody and care of children are often sensitive and contentious issues in divorce. When the Singapore Family Justice Court makes decisions around these issues, it will always...
Child Adoption Singapore
Adopting a child is a legal process with significant consequences for the child, the biological parents, and the adoptive parents. Adoption establishes a new legal relationship...
Separation in Singapore
In Singapore, separation is one of the four grounds parties can rely on to prove an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage when seeking a divorce. The party seeking the divorce...
Spousal and Child Maintenance in Singapore
The Women's Charter provides for both child and spousal maintenance during the marriage or as part of divorce proceedings. In Singapore, every parent has a legal duty to...
![Personal Protection Order [PPO]](https://pkwalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/personal-protection-order-thumb.jpg)
Personal Protection Order [PPO]
Family violence is unfortunately not unheard of in Singapore. Every year many women and men approach the courts for protection. If you live with family violence, you should know...
Guide to Mental Capacity Act in Singapore
The Singapore Government introduced the Mental Capacity Act in 2008 to address the increase in mental illnesses as the population ages. The Act came into effect in 2010. Any...
Divorce Based on Adultery
In Singapore, adultery is not a ground for divorce on its own. The only sole ground for divorce is in section 95(1) of the Women's Charter. It provides that either party to the...
You've Been Caught Speeding
Breaking the speed limit is one of the most common traffic offences in Singapore. Whether you speed by accident or on purpose, knowledge of the law around speeding is something...
Variation of Court Orders
When making maintenance and custody orders during divorce proceedings, the court will take many factors into account. For example, who will make major life decisions for the...
Power of Attorney - Options & Uses
When an individual gives another person the legal power to act on their behalf, this is known as a Power of Attorney (POA). It is a legally binding document. The person giving...
HDB Power of Attorney
If you want to appoint someone to carry out certain legal activities for you, on your behalf, then you will need something called a Power of Attorney (POA). In this article, we...
Drink Driving in Singapore
Drink Driving in Singapore Drink driving can lead to serious consequences. It can sharply increase the likelihood of accidents and endangers the lives of other road users. As such...
Uncontested Divorce by Mutual Agreement
What is an Uncontested Divorce by Mutual Agreement in Singapore If you are going through a divorce in Singapore, it makes sense to see if you can file for an Uncontested Divorce....
Lasting Power of Attorney
Many of us understand the importance of creating a will. We want to ensure our children and our estate will be well taken care of after passing away. In addition, we wish to make...
Beware these dirty divorce tactics
A divorce can, unfortunately, bring out the worst in your spouse. This is because they may be so aggrieved and resort to underhanded or undesirable conduct. If your spouse is bent...
How does the court decide on the amount of maintenance?
How does the Family Court decide on spousal and children maintenance? This article will briefly cover three areas regarding an ex-wife’s maintenance: Determining the...
Preparing for Divorce
For many people, the prospect of filing for divorce will seem a daunting task. Beyond the emotional toll of the process on all involved, the actual nuts and bolts of untangling...
Why do women initiate divorce more than men?
At PKWA Law, we see women asking for divorce more than men. This is not just an anecdotal observation. Statistics also prove that more women than men are likely to ask for a...
Therapeutic Justice - A new approach to divorce in Singapore
Divorce is understandably one of the most stressful events in any individual’s life. Where there are children to the marriage and assets to be divided between parties, matters...
Guide to Contested Divorce Process
When you decide to divorce in Singapore, you will have many questions. Do I qualify for divorce? What is my entitlement? What happens to my children, and how are assets...
Can your spouse lock you out of the house?
Question My spouse has forced me out of the home by changing the lock. We own this house together. What are my rights? Can I stop paying the mortgage since I cannot live there...
Can you change your child's surname after divorce?
When couples fight over custody of children, mothers sometimes express a wish to change their children’s surname after divorce. This desire is frequently brought about because of...
How will a Judge decide who gets custody?
How does the Family Court decide which parent gets custody? When parents cannot agree on how they will raise their children after divorce, judges have to decide which parent...
Child Custody for Fathers in Singapore
In a divorce, one of the major issues to be determined is the custody, care and control of any minor children of the marriage. A common question is whether the law in this area is...
Filing for Singapore Divorce from Overseas
Singapore is a very global city, and its citizens have no lack of opportunities overseas. It is increasingly common for couples who were married in Singapore to move to other...
5 Reasons to Hire a Good Probate Lawyer
If a loved one has just passed away, it is naturally stressful and difficult to understand what to do about the probate process. You will need to get a good probate lawyer to...
Making a Claim - Small Claims Tribunal
The Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) was set up to facilitate the resolution of claims that may arise between consumers and suppliers. As it is meant to be an affordable and expedient...
Prenuptial Agreements in Singapore
A prenuptial agreement is essentially a contract entered into between spouses before their marriage. This contract is intended to govern what happens if a couple eventually decides...
Declaring Bankruptcy in Singapore
What is bankruptcy in Singapore? Bankruptcy might be the first thing you think of when you realize that you can’t keep up with your bills and debts. It might even be the right...
Conveyancing Process in Singapore
At PKWA Law, our Real Estate, Property & Conveyancing lawyers act for all types of property transactions in Singapore. Our firm is widely regarded as a leading Property, Real...
How does Marriage or Divorce affect your Will?
Getting married? Generally speaking, under Singapore law, your previous Will is automatically revoked upon marriage if you get married. This is because you have a new family and...
Free Divorce Lawyer Consultation
Free divorce consultation with PKWA Divorce Lawyers If you are considering divorce PKWA Law offers a free first consultation at our office to answer all your questions. This is a...
Deputyship or Lasting Power of Attorney?
What is the difference between a Deputyship and an LPA? It is important to know the difference between applying for a Deputyship under the Mental Capacity Act and making a Lasting...
Deputyship Application
Applying to be a Deputy under Mental Capacity Act We assist clients in applying for a Deputyship order when a family member lacks mental capacity and does not make a Lasting Power...
Guide to Uncontested Divorce
There are 2 types of divorce in Singapore: Contested Uncontested (sometimes referred to as simplified or amicable divorce) What is a Contested Divorce? When a divorce...
Leading Female Divorce Lawyers in Singapore
We sometimes get requests from clients that they would prefer a female divorce lawyer to represent them. While the gender of your divorce lawyer won’t determine the outcome of...
Interview with Lim Chong Boon
28 Sep 2015 – Yuk Lun Chan (Singapore Legal Advice) Mr Lim Chong Boon is an experienced litigation lawyer with more than 25 years of experience in probate, family and divorce...
5 Tips for Quick Probate Obtainment
The probate lawyers at PKWA Law usually obtain Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration within 4 to 6 weeks. The quicker the Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration...
Banks Panel of Lawyers - Conveyancing
PKWA Law is on the approved panel of lawyers for all the major banks and financial institutions including DBS, UOB, OCBC, Maybank, CPF Board. PKWA Law is one of Singapore's best...
PKWA recognised as one of Singapore's best law firms
We are pleased to share that PKWA Law has been recognised as one of Singapore’s top family law firms by the Straits Times in its inaugural Straits Times Singapore’s Best Law...
Guide to Making a Will
Guide to making a will in Singapore The Wills Act governs the making of a Will in Singapore. The Wills Act states that a testator (the person making the Will) may devise, bequeath...
Men's rights under Singapore divorce
What is a husband’s rights in a divorce in Singapore? Is a man at a disadvantage under Singapore divorce law? Unfortunately, there is a lot of misconception that the man is at a...
Resealing a Foreign Grant of Probate in Singapore
“Hailed as a leading specialist for probate and family law in Singapore. PKWA Law has earned its rank as one of the top family law firms in the 2019 edition of Benchmark...
Expat Divorce in Singapore
Expatriate divorce in Singapore With a large community of foreigners and expatriates in Singapore, it is natural to expect the divorce rate among foreigners to rise here. If you...
How is a business divided in a divorce?
How is a business divided in a divorce? Before jumping into this topic we should first start by discussing the concept of matrimonial assets. Under the Women’s Charter,...
What is a Matrimonial Asset?
When does an asset become a matrimonial asset in divorce? A common question many clients ask is: What about assets acquired by me solely before marriage? Does it become a...
Grant of Probate Guide
What is a Grant of Probate? When a person passes away, and the deceased person has a valid will, the beneficiaries need the Executor (the person named in the Will) to apply to the...
How to Change Your Name in Singapore
It is a common practice for people to change their name in Singapore, and this is done via a legal document known as a deed poll. In this article, we'll provide more detail on the...
Potential HDB Challenges In Divorce
There are several problems you may face when dealing with your HDB Flat after a divorce. This is especially so when the minimum occupation period (“MOP”) for the HDB flat is...
What is the difference between Divorce and a Deed of Separation?
What is the difference between Divorce and a Deed of Separation? Divorce is the legal process when you legally end your marriage. Sometimes, a married couple may not want to...
PKWA Helps Husband Win Court of Appeal Case - Husband wins 75% up from 25% of $13.6m
PKWA Law Wins Landmark Case at Court of Appeal: Husband's Share of Matrimonial Assets Increased to 75%, up from 25% of $13.6 Million Family lawyers from PKWA Law successfully...
Unreasonable Behaviour in Divorce
What is "unreasonable behaviour" in Singapore divorce? To show unreasonable behaviour, it is not sufficient to say that the parties no longer get along or are not compatible....
How to choose the best divorce lawyers in Singapore
Choosing the best divorce family lawyers in Singapore (with affordable fees) Everyone would like to have the best divorce lawyer without paying expensive fees, but where do you...
Why make a Lasting Power of Attorney
The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows you to plan ahead and appoint someone whom you trust (called the donee) to manage your finances and your welfare if you should suddenly...
Division of Matrimonial Assets
How does the Court deal with the division of matrimonial assets in a divorce? Recently, our team of divorce lawyers led by Deputy Head Dorothy Tan won a significant case at the...
Accessing a Deceased Spouse's Bank Account
How do you access your deceased spouse's bank account? At PKWA Probate Law, we provide legal guidance for clients after the death of a loved one. Commonly, family members do not...
Wife Maintenance - how much and how long
Wife Maintenance The crucial question for the courts to consider in each family’s circumstances is, of course: how much maintenance should be given to the wife and for how...
8 Essential steps to take after the loss of a loved one
Losing a loved one is undoubtedly one of life's most challenging experiences. Amidst the emotional turmoil, there are critical legal matters that demand attention to ensure the...
Grant of Letters of Administration
What are Letters of Administration and how much do they cost? The Grant of Letters of Administration is a court document granted by the Family Court issued to the person (usually...
Grounds for Divorce Under the Women's Charter
What are the grounds for divorce in Singapore? When you file your divorce papers, you will need to establish that you have a legal ground (or complaint) under the Women’s...
Is Prostitution Legal in Singapore?
Prostitution is legal in Singapore. It may be surprising to some visitors, but there are brothels which are regulated by the Singapore government, where both local and foreign...