Divorce can be overwhelming to think about mentally and emotionally. Major considerations include the impact it would have on your finances, your living arrangements, and most importantly on your children.
Parents with minor children are required to undergo the Mandatory Parenting Programme (MPP) before filing for divorce. The aim of the MPP is to help parents make more informed decisions that prioritize the well-being of children.
Please visit the Mandatory Parenting Programme (MPP) | Family Assist (msf.gov.sg) for more information, or to register for the MPP.
Lawyers assist with the legal, procedural and formal processes of filing for a divorce in Court. Some family lawyers also provide mediation services to resolve disputes out of court amicably.
Counselling addresses emotions that individuals experience from a breakdown in the marriage. It can also be a channel for individuals to learn skills and gain new insight.
We encourage individuals to seek professional help via counselling to seek to work on the marriage, before considering filing for a divorce. We believe individuals considering divorce should approach family lawyers only when they are sure they wish to pursue a divorce, as aborted divorce proceedings may impact the marriage negatively in the longer term.
We offer counselling sessions for reconciliation and for divorced/divorcing couples. We also offer hold programmes such as Mandatory Parenting Programme (MPP), Children-In-Between – Parents and Children, and Parenting Pact.
Please visit the following link for a comprehensive guide on the divorce procedures.
Services offered by [email protected] (Fei Yue – Choa Chu Kang) are free of charge.
The Mandatory Parenting Programme is a consultation session for parents with minor children before they file for divorce. It is designed to encourage divorcing couples make informed decisions that prioritise the well-being of children.
The Mandatory Parenting Programme is 2 hours long and will be held by counsellors from Divorce Support Specialist Agencies.
The Mandatory Parenting Programme (MPP) will be conducted in different variations depending on you gender, age of your eldest child and language in which the session will be held.
Yes, there are online sessions available. The online session will also be held by counsellors from Divorce Support Specialist Agencies. Online sessions are not necessarily faster than face to face sessions.
No. The Mandatory Parenting Programme is only conducted on weekdays during two time slots. The morning slot would be from 10.30AM – 12.30PM. The afternoon slot would be from 2PM to 4PM. The session timings will be determined by the centre and availability of the counsellors.
The scheduling for the Mandatory Parenting Programme (MPP) would take a few days from the time you have applied. However, the waiting time would be approximately 1 month. For example, if you have applied on 1 August, your session will most likely be scheduled in September. *This is an estimated time and all sessions will be allocated based on availability and urgency.
The Mandatory Parenting Programme is free for Singapore Citizens and Singaporean Permanent Residents.
The Children in Between is a workshop for parents and their children who are between 6 to less than 15 years of age. The workshops under CIB covers topics for both parents and children:
| CIB for Parents | CIB for Children |
| Practical Co-parenting skills | Positive ways to cope with their parents’ divorce |
| Ways to reduce parental conflict | Exploring feelings and fears, myths and truths |
| Understanding the needs of their children in a divorce situation | Skills to share their feelings |
Parents attending the Children-In-Between workshop would have to commit to 2 sessions, each session being 2 hours long.
Children attending the Children-In-Between workshop would have to commit to 3 sessions, each session being 2 hours long.
The dates for each run of CIB varies. To find out the dates and timing of the next available run, please write an enquiry to [email protected].
Both parents and their children are encouraged to attend the workshops in separate sessions. Siblings are also encouraged to attend different runs of the sessions so as to give each child space to share their emotions freely
In light of the current Covid-19 situation, there will be a maximum of 4 children to one counsellor. The counsellors try their best to engage each and every child during the sessions.
Parenting PACT is a one-time consultation session for divorced parents with children who are 21 years old and below. The session aims to help parents:
*As adapted from MSF Divorce Support webpage
Participants who attend Parenting Pact must have completed their divorce procedures. Participants will be contacted by MSF to attend the session.
In light of the current Covid-19 situation, Parenting Pact is held as a webinar online every Friday. Sessions are usually held between 10Am to 12PM. This timing should be confirmed with the trainer.
You may visit our centre or drop us a call or email. Our intake officer will attend to you during our operating hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am-6pm
Address:
Blk 281 Choa Chu Kang Ave 3
Singapore 680281
Telephone: 6235 5229 / 9072 9698
Email: [email protected]
Adults going through divorce procedures or are already divorced, can attend counselling sessions. Reconciliation counselling is also provided for clients who wish to reconcile and work on their marriage.
Reconciliation counselling requires clients to commit to 6 sessions. After 6 sessions, clients have to decide if they would still wish to proceed with the divorce. Should clients wish to carry on working on the marriage, they will be referred to another agency. Should clients wish to proceed with the divorce, [email protected] (Fei Yue – Choa Chu Kang) can continue taking on the case.
Counselling can serve as a means of support through the different stages of divorce:
As a precaution against COVID-19, the majority of counselling services are held online. However, face-to-face counselling sessions can be arranged. Please call [email protected] (Fei Yue – Choa Chu Kang) at Tel: 6235 5229 / 9072 9698 for more information.
Counselling is available in individual, joint or family sessions. The format will vary depending on your individual circumstances. The counsellor will also assess the suitability of conducting sessions in the appropriate format. Should your spouse/ex-spouse be unwilling to attend counselling with you, you can still seek counselling for yourself.
Although there is no hard and fast rule in determining if your child requires professional help, here are some signs:
Counsellors will use different ways to engage your child to express his or her thoughts and feelings. This may include talking or doing activities together. The counsellor may also teach your child skills to cope with his or her difficulties.
The counsellor may also speak to you to understand how your child is outside of counselling, and may impart skills and tips to you to better support your child. Changes will take time, perseverance and consistency.
You may obtain more information on legal aid from this website https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/free-legal-clinics/
Community Legal Clinics are held every Monday to Thursday (except public holidays and eves of public holidays) at 4 different locations. These locations are:
To make an appointment, you can call 6536 0650 or email the Pro Bono Services Office at [email protected]. You should also bring all relevant documents to the session to help the lawyer to best understand and advise on your situation.
Visit the Law Society Pro Bono Services Offices website for more information on the Community Legal Clinics.
If you or your children are the victims of domestic violence, you may
For more information, please see Family Violence on the MSF website.
*Adapted from MSF Divorce Support Resources webpage
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