Recent Developments in Family Law – Legislative Reforms and Therapeutic Justice in Singapore

Overview

There have been significant changes to Family Law legislation in recent years. This seminar, designed for legal practitioners, academics and professionals working in family-related fields, aims to examine these key legislative developments that have refined the family justice landscape in Singapore. The speakers will provide both doctrinal insights and practical reflections on how these reforms influence dispute resolution, court processes, and family outcomes. A central theme of the seminar is to evaluate whether these legal changes advance the Family Justice Courts’ commitment to therapeutic justice and the broader goal of strengthening families.

The seminar will begin with a welcome address introducing the objectives of the session and framing the discussion within Singapore’s evolving family justice philosophy. Emphasis will be placed on the concept of therapeutic justice – minimising harm, encouraging healing, and supporting sustainable family relationships.

The speakers will then examine the following topics:

1. The introduction of divorce by mutual agreement as a sixth fact under s 95A of the Women’s Charter 1961, highlighting its significance in reducing acrimony and simplifying proceedings. The discussion will consider how the sixth fact may be appropriately utilised by parties and counsel advising the parties to facilitate therapeutic justice.
2. The implementation of the maintenance enforcement framework, outlining the improvements to the enforcement mechanisms, which aim to ensure compliance and reduce financial hardship. The session will analyse whether these enhancements are effective in strengthening accountability and facilitating sustainable outcomes.
3. The introduction of new enforcement measures relating to custody and access orders, discussing the new powers of enforcement, its benefits and challenges.
4. Review of the enhanced judge-led powers in family proceedings, particularly sections 11A, 11B and 11C of the Family Justice Act 2014.

Through a structured exploration of recent legislative reforms, this seminar seeks to deepen understanding of Singapore’s family law trajectory and its commitment to a more compassionate, constructive, and family-centred justice system.

Seminar Information

1.5 Public CPD Points

Practice Area: Family

Training Level: General

Course Fee: $54.50

Registration Deadline: 16 August 2026

Event ID: EV26000155

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Programme

Speakers

Ms Ruth Yeo (SUSS)

Ruth Yeo is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). She teaches Family Law, Constitutional Law and Tort Law. She has published refereed journal articles on selected areas of family and trusts law, corporate law and tort law both internationally and in Singapore. Her publications have been cited by the High Court of Singapore and various leading commentators.

Ruth Yeo obtained a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from the National University of Singapore in 2010. She was awarded the Law Society Book Prize (given to the top two students in the cohort) in her third year, in addition to being placed on the Dean’s List every year. She obtained a Master of Laws from New York University in 2010. Ruth joined the Singapore Legal Service in 2010 and began her career as a Justices’ Law Clerk. She was then appointed as an Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore. Subsequently, she served as a State Counsel in the Civil Division, Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Ms Edith Chen  (IMH)

Edith is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), and is part of the team at SUSS which teaches the Family Law courses. The Family Law courses taught at SUSS comprise the study of both substantive and procedural family law using an integrated approach and adopt as a core concept the philosophy of Therapeutic Justice.

Edith graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2009 where she was awarded the LexisNexis Family Law Prize in Academic Year 2007/2008. Admitted to the Singapore Bar in 2010, she joined Tan Rajah & Cheah and practised in family law litigation among other areas of law. Today, Edith continues to maintain a niche practice in family law as a Consultant with the firm. Edith is also an accredited mediator with the Singapore International Mediation Institute and an Associate mediator under the Law Society Mediation Scheme Panel.

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