File and serve an originating claim (from 1 April 2022)

Note

This page is for matters that the Rules of Court 2021 apply to. For content relating to matters that the Rules of Court 2014 apply, click here.

If you are uncertain as to which version of the Rules of Court applies to your matter, click here.

Note

Before you file

Before you file an OC, make sure you understand the civil process begun by an originating claim.

If you are filing a claim against another party, you are the claimant.

The other party is the defendant.

Key facts

Refer to the following to find out how to file and serve an OC.

When to file	Within the time limits prescribed by law, depending on your civil action.
When to serve	As soon as possible, and in any event, no later than 3 months from the date the OC is issued.
How to file	Through eLitigation.

What you will need

You should prepare the following before you file:

The OC in accordance with Form 8 of the Appendix A of the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021 or Form 8 of Appendix A2 of the State Courts Practice Directions 2021.
A statement of claim.
- As statement of claim is a type of pleading, a written document containing the relevant facts establishing your claim and the relief or remedy you are seeking from the defendant.

Estimated fees

Refer to the following to find out the possible fees for filing and serving an OC. You may also refer to the Fourth Schedule of the Rules of Court 2021 for the full list of court fees.

In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

Item or service	Fees
File an originating process and pleadings containing a claim or cause of action	$150
File a statement of claim	$20
Serving an OC on the defendant	(If service is done by a court process server) $30 Payment has to made at the State Courts Service Hub during operating hours (If service is done by a lawyer or a lawyer’s clerk) Contact a lawyer directly to find out their fees

Refer to the following for the filing fees if your claim is up to $1 million. In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

Item or service	Fees
File an originating process and pleadings containing a claim or cause of action	$500
File a statement of claim	$200
Serving an OC on the defendant	(If service is done by a court process server) $50 Payment has to made at the Legal Registry of the Supreme Court during operating hours (If service is done by a lawyer or a lawyer’s clerk) Contact a lawyer directly to find out their fees

Refer to the following for the filing fees if your claim is more than $1 million. In addition to the fees listed in the table, there are also other fees payable to the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

Item or service	Fees
File an originating process and pleadings containing a claim or cause of action	$1,000
File a statement of claim	$500
Serving an OC on the defendant	(If service is done by a court process server) $50 Payment has to made at the Legal Registry of the Supreme Court during operating hours (If service is done by a lawyer or a lawyer’s clerk) Contact a lawyer directly to find out their fees

How to file and serve

You may choose to file the documents personally or through a lawyer. If you are represented by a lawyer, the documents will be filed by your lawyer.

If you are representing yourself, you must file the documents through eLitigation at the LawNet and CrimsonLogic Service Bureau.

You must follow the Rules of Court 2021 and the State Courts Practice Directions 2021 or the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021 to prepare your documents before heading down personally to do the filing.

Refer to the following for the steps to file and serve your OC.

Step	Result
1. File your OC	Your OC is accepted or rejected by the respective court.
2. Collect the approved OC	You will receive a copy of the sealed OC via eLitigation.
3. Serve OC on the defendant	The defendant is notified of your claim.

You will have to file your OC via eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau. Your OC will then be submitted to the respective court for review.

The LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau will notify you via email or SMS of the outcome of your submission.

If the court accepts your OC, a copy of the approved Writ containing the respective court's seal and registrar's signature will be issued via eLitigation.

You will have to collect the approved OC from the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau and arrange for it to be served on the defendant.

After the sealed OC has been issued by the court, it has to be served personally on the defendant as soon as possible, no later than 3 months from the date the OC is issued.

Reasonable steps must be taken to serve the OC expeditiously. Where the OC is to be served in Singapore, reasonable steps to serve the defendant should be taken within 14 days after the OC is issued. Where the OC is to be served outside of Singapore (out of jurisdiction), reasonable steps should be taken within 28 days. Refer to How to serve court documents to find out the process of serving documents outside of Singapore (out of jurisdiction).

Note

Who can serve

Personal service may be effected by a litigant who is not represented by a lawyer or by such a litigant's employee.

The following persons may also provide personal service of the originating claim:

A lawyer or a lawyer’s employee.
A process server of the court, who will only be assigned if there are special reasons that require the personal service to be carried out by a court process server.
- You will first have to file an “Other Hearing Related Request” through eLitigation at the LawNet & CrimsonLogic Service Bureau. The request must set out the special reasons for requiring a court process server.
- If the request is approved, you will have to fill in a form and pay the necessary fees at the State Courts Service Hub (for District Court and Magistrate’s Court cases) or Supreme Court Service Hub (for General Division of the High Court cases) before making an appointment for the court process server to serve your documents.
- On the appointed date of service, you will have to accompany the court process server as well as arrange for transport and pay the required transport charges (if applicable) for the court process server.
Any other person that the registrar may allow in a particular case or generally.

If personal service is unsuccessful

You may apply for substituted service if at least 2 reasonable attempts at personal service have been unsuccessful. Substituted service is subject to the court's approval.

Your application must be made by a summons supported by an affidavit.

In your affidavit, you should include:

Your proposed mode of substituted service.
The reasons why it is impracticable to effect personal service.
The reasons why you believe attempts at personal service made were reasonable.
The reasons why you believe your proposed mode of substituted service will be effective in bringing the OC to the notice of the defendant.

Modes of substituted service of the OC include (but are not limited to):

Posting it on the front door or gate of the defendant’s home or place of business.
Sending it by registered mail to the defendant's last known residential or registered address.
Sending it by email or internet transmission.

After the OC is served

The defendant may choose to settle or contest your claim after the OC has been served on them.

If the defendant wishes to settle the claim, they may contact you or your lawyer directly.

Alternatively, you may be served an offer of amicable resolution, such as an offer to settle by the defendant.

If the defendant wishes to contest your claim, the defendant will:

File and send a copy of a notice of intention to contest or not contest to you within 14 days after the statement of claim is served on the defendant (if the defendant was served the OC in Singapore), or within 21 days after the statement of claim is served on the defendant (if the defendant was served the OC outside of Singapore).

File and serve a copy of their defence on you within 21 days after the statement of claim is served where the defendant was served in Singapore, or within 5 weeks after the statement of claim is served where the defendant was served outside Singapore.
- If the defendant has a claim against you, the defendant may file and serve a copy of their defence and counterclaim instead.

Need help?

The information here is for general guidance as the courts do not provide legal advice. If you need further help, you may want to get independent legal advice.

Find out more