A: To get divorced in Singapore, you must follow the procedure found in the Women's Charter, a collection of laws passed by our Parliament to deal with marriages, divorce and financial support of wives and children.

The first step to getting a divorce is for one of you to apply to the Family Division of the High Court. This application is called a "divorce petition" and the person applying for divorce is called a "petitioner".

1. The reason for a divorce.

There is only ONE ground for divorce in Singapore: your marriage has "broken down irretrievably". It cannot be "saved ".

A court will not accept that a marriage has irretrievably broken downunless you show that you are in any one of these 5 situations:

1. your spouse is committing adultery (that means actually having sex with someone else) and that you cannot tolerate living with him/her OR
2. Your spouse's behaviour is so unreasonable that you can no longer tolerate live with him/her OR
3. your spouse has deserted you for more than 2 years- which means at least his/her their identity card and/or passport are also missing with the person and you cannot locate him/her OR
4. You have lived apart for 3 years before applying for divorce and he/sheagrees to divorce OR
5. You have lived apart for 4 years (in which case you do not need his/her consent).

One other thing: the courts normally do not accept that your marriage is beyond help if you have not stayed married for at least 3 years from the date of registration with the Registry of Marriages. Only in situations where you can show that:

1. your spouse is exceptionally depraved - meaning he/she is almost psychotic, disturbed enough to be a danger to you or your children- OR
2. you would suffer extreme hardship not suffered by other spouses
3. will you be allowed to apply to be divorced before trying to work at your marriage for 3 years. Be prepared that the courts will look very carefully at your proof of such depravity or extreme hardship

2. Other compulsory arrangements - Children and Plans for HDB flats

I.Temporary arrangements for children - a Proposed Parenting Plan (PPP) or Agreed Parenting Plan (APP)

If you have any children below 21 years old when you are applying to be divorced, you must submit a proposal regarding how the children will be cared for during and after the break-up of the marriage. You will be required to furnish details such as:

1. the age and birth date of the child
2. where he or she is studying
3. who is the principal care giver - you, your spouse, your parent/s or yourin-law(s)

II. Where you own a HDB flat