- Spousal maintenance can be claimed by a wife or former wife, or by a husband who is incapacitated.
- Both parents are responsible for maintaining their children, usually until 21 and sometimes longer.
- The court considers each party's income, earning capacity, needs, standard of living and contributions.
- Maintenance can be paid monthly or as a lump sum, and can be varied if circumstances change.
- A new maintenance enforcement process has been introduced in phases since January 2025.
Who can claim
A wife, or a former wife after divorce, can claim maintenance from her husband. A husband can claim from his wife only if he is incapacitated, meaning that, because of a physical or mental condition, he is unable to support himself, and the incapacity began before or during the marriage.
Both parents have a duty to maintain their children, whether or not they are married to each other. The duty generally lasts until the child turns 21, and can continue beyond that, for example while the child is in full-time study or national service, or has a disability.
How the amount is decided
The court first asks whether maintenance is needed, and then how much. It looks at factors such as:
- each party's income, earning capacity, property and other resources;
- each party's financial needs and obligations, now and in the foreseeable future;
- the standard of living the family enjoyed during the marriage;
- each party's age, health and the length of the marriage;
- contributions to the family, including looking after the home and the children.
Forms maintenance can take
Maintenance is usually paid monthly. The court may instead order a single lump sum, sometimes to achieve a clean break between the former spouses. Where a wife does not currently need support, the court may make a nominal order that can be revisited later.
Before the divorce is decided, a spouse can ask for interim maintenance to cover the period while the case is ongoing.
Changing maintenance
Either party can apply to vary a maintenance order if there has been a material change in circumstances, such as a job loss or a significant change in a child's needs. Spousal maintenance usually ends if the former wife remarries.
When payments stop
A new maintenance enforcement process has been introduced in phases since 16 January 2025. It is designed to deter non-payment and make maintenance orders easier to enforce. The process has been extended in stages, and from 1 July 2026 it covers all maintenance arrears. Check the Family Justice Courts' website for how it works today.
This article is general information on Singapore law and is not legal advice. Rules and agency policies change, and every situation is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
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